Report: Clear Path from Community Colleges to 4-Year Institutions

From their origins, community colleges were intended to be affordable and accessible entry points into the world of postsecondary education. Data show, however, that many students enter community college only to wind up either not finishing their degree or taking six or more years to complete a two-year degree.

Community colleges also serve as transfer points to four-year colleges and universities. Students can earn course credits, complete a two-year degree, or earn a certificate at the fraction of the cost of a four-year college or university, before moving on to obtain an undergraduate or graduate degree at another institution.

The Edvance Foundation, a nonprofit that spearheads the Nexpectation Network, came out with a report on Wednesday that lays out a series of recommendations on how to smooth the transfer pathway from community college to four-year institutions.

It is commonly understood that community college students are up against a number of challenges when transferring from a community college to four-year institutions. “There are potholes along the transfer pathway,” Brian Mitchell, Edvance director, told Diverse in a phone call on Thursday.