Why Community College Students Stop Out

"Most of the students who ultimately stopped out, 87 percent, came to college hoping to gain some kind of credential. More than two-thirds wanted to eventually earn a bachelor's degree or higher. They also came to college with high hopes for academic success. More than three-quarters expected their average letter grade to be between an A and a B, and 84 percent expected to finish all the classes in which they'd enrolled."

"But their experiences in college were mixed, the report found. Slightly fewer than a quarter reported feeling a definitive sense of community, and only one-third said they developed at least one strong friendship. They reported better relationships with faculty members than peers. Most respondents agreed, strongly or somewhat, that faculty cared about their well-being, valued their voice in the classroom and would notice their absence."

"Their academic confidence also varied. Nearly 44 percent said they were interested in most of their classes, but only 31 percent reported they felt sure they performed well academically. Only 29 percent felt very confident in their classes, compared to 57 percent who felt slightly or somewhat confident. The top reasons were enduring financial hardship, feeling academically unsuccessful, experiencing stress related to college and changing career goals."

Surveys of 480 former students who left community college before their second year show that 87 percent sought credentials, over two-thirds aimed for a bachelor's degree, and most expected high grades and course completion. Experiences varied: fewer than a quarter felt a definitive sense of community and only one-third developed at least one strong friendship, while relationships with faculty were generally positive. Academic confidence was mixed, with 29 percent very confident and 57 percent only slightly or somewhat confident. Students cited an average of 3.7 reasons for leaving, chiefly financial hardship, academic difficulties, stress, and changing career goals.

Read at Inside Higher Ed | Higher Education News, Events and Jobs