Students who enrolled in community colleges were significantly less likely to earn bachelor's degrees and had lower early-career earnings than peers who went directly to four-year institutions, but those who ultimately transferred to four-year colleges performed equally to those who went directly into four-year institutions, a new study has found.
The research, conducted by the Center for Analysis of Postsecondary Education and Employment at the Community College Research Center at Columbia University's Teachers College, examines terrain that has become increasingly important as more students (often encouraged by policy makers) consider enrolling in two-year institutions because they are less expensive.
The better financial deal that community colleges may seem to be on paper only pans out, though, if students who choose that path fare well academically and in the workforce.
Read more at Inside Higher Ed: https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2016/05/03/study-finds-comparatively-good-outcomes-community-college-transfers