Exploring pathways to improve college completion rates

Download this report to examine a range of attitudes that influence the motivation, engagement, persistence, and college completion rates of undergraduate transfer students. This report looks beyond students’ test scores and grade point averages at a range of non-cognitive attitudes that may pose barriers or opportunities for making a successful transition to their new institution.

The report is based on student survey responses drawn from a sizable sample of transfer students enrolled at four-year and two-year institutions between 2010 and 2012. The survey used for this study was the Second-Year Student Assessment™, an early-alert, motivational assessment that is part of the Retention Management System Plus™.

Among the findings:

• Ninety-three percent of respondents showed a high commitment to finishing college and a strong determination to succeed.
• Between 12 and 24 percent of the transfer students in this study acknowledged that they lacked confidence in their academic abilities.
• Many transfer students—up to 62 percent of respondents from four-year public institutions—wanted help with preparing a written academic plan for graduation.
• Only 47 to 49 percent of respondents across institution types were able to affirm that “I have the financial resources I need to finish college.”