Dive Brief:
- Almost half of the students who got bachelor’s degrees in the 2013-14 school year got at least part of their college education at a two-year institution.
- A new report from the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center shows that 46% of graduates had enrolled in a community college and 65% of those students spent at least three semesters there, Inside Higher Ed reports.
- The paths were varied—some students started at a four-year, switched to a two-year, and then transferred to a different four-year, according to the article.
Dive Insight:
For many students, community college is a safer start to a bachelor’s degree. It’s close to home and it’s less expensive, giving students a chance to save for the switch to a four-year institution or, at the very least, avoid going into debt. The National Clearinghouse data also showed students use community colleges as a haven between a four-year college that didn’t work for them and their final, degree-granting institution. It’s important for post-secondary institutions to understand their students, both prospective and current. This latest data provides a helpful clarification of the college-going population and their diverse trajectories.