Transfer to bachelor’s degree programs (with award)
The percentage and number of students in an entering cohort who transfer to a bachelor’s program and earned an associate degree prior to transfer.
Research shows that community college students who attain associate degrees prior to transferring to a four-year institution are more likely to attain a bachelor’s degree, both overall and within different student subgroups. 14 This metric provides an indicator of whether students who transfer will attain a bachelor’s degree. It is also relevant to state appropriations levels for community colleges in states that provide performance funding tied to associate degree attainment and/or four-year transfer.
While college leaders will find value in collecting data on all students, consistently disaggregating data whenever possible can reveal outcome disparities. This information is essential for colleges developing strong reform plans to improve and close disparities in student success.
- Race/ethnicity
- Gender
- Family/Personal Income
- Age
- Parent/Dependent status
- Attendance intensity
- First-generation status
- Veteran status
Students may identify with one or many of the above identities. College leaders should consider how these different identities intersect and pay close attention to these relationships and how they may influence each student’s experience.