Community college is often touted as an affordable start for students who want to earn bachelor’s degrees. Yet only 13% of community college students actually go on to earn degrees from four-year institutions within eight years, according to data released by the U.S. Department of Education in 2023
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With their open enrollment policies and low tuition, community colleges offer crucial access to higher education. They educate 41% of all U.S. undergraduates, according to the Community College Research Center. And when those students enroll, 83% plan to transfer to four-year schools, according to the Center for Community College Student Engagement.
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Two-thirds of community college students take classes part time. And they often juggle jobs, caregiving and other obligations that can disrupt their education.
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Research suggests statewide policies to make transferring easier can help students earn bachelor’s degrees and avoid taking unnecessary classes.
I went to Ivy Tech before transferring to Purdue. Purdue had a tool to lookup what classes are required and what the equivalent class is at Ivy Tech. The Indiana board of education set course equivalencies for general education classes that are guaranteed to transfer between ivy tech and any state 4 year college.