The study utilized the Beginning Postsecondary Students Longitudinal Study (BPS:04/06) data set to examine persistence outcomes over a 3-year period across the national sample of students from low socioeconomic backgrounds at public 2-year institutions in the United States. More specifically, the purpose of our study was to investigate how demographic characteristics, in-college attributes, environmental factors, and personal goals of low-income students who enrolled in public 2-year institutions with the intentions of degree attainment or transfer affected their decisions to persist to degree completion, transfer to another institution, or leave. The results from multinomial logistic regression analysis revealed that different sets of factors predicted persistence and transfer for low-income students in our study. Early identification of who will be more likely to leave, transfer, or persist to degree completion will help community colleges better serve the needs of their students.
AragonS. R. & JohnsonE. S. (2008). Factors influencing completion and noncompletion of community college online courses. The American Journal of Distance Education22, 146–158. doi: 10.1080/08923640802239962
3.
BahrP. R. (2009). College hopping: Exploring occurrences, frequency, and consequences of lateral transfer. Community College Review, 36(4), 271–298.
4.
BaileyT. (2009). Challenge and opportunity: Rethinking the role and function of developmental education in community college. In BueschelA. C. & VeneziaA. (Eds.), New directions for community colleges 143: Policies and practices to improve student preparation and success. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.
5.
BaileyT. R. & AlfonsoM. (2005). Paths to persistence: An analysis of research on program effectiveness at community college. Lumina Foundation for Education New Agenda Series, 6(1), 1–44. New York, NY: Community College Research Center, Teachers College, Columbia University.
6.
BaileyT.JenkinsD. & LeinbachT. (2005). Graduation rates, student goals, and measuring community college effectiveness. CCRC Brief, 28, 1–4. New York, NY: Community College Research Center.
7.
BaileyT. & MorestSmith V. (2006). The community college equity agenda in the twenty-first century. In BaileyT. & MorestSmith V. (Eds.), Defending the community college equity agenda (pp. 246–270). Baltimore, MD: The Johns Hopkins University Press.
8.
BarbatisP. (2010). Underprepared, ethnically diverse community college students: Factors contributing to persistence. Journal of Developmental Education33(3), 14–24.
9.
BeanJ. P. & MetznerB. S. (1985). A conceptual model of nontraditional undergraduate student attrition. Review of Educational Research, 55(4), 485–540.
10.
BersT. H. & SmithK. E. (1991). Persistence of community college students: The influence of student intent and academic and social integration. Research in Higher Education, 32(5), 539–556.
11.
BraggD. D. (2001). Community college access, mission, and outcomes: Considering intriguing intersections and challenges. Peabody Journal of Education76(1), 93–116.
12.
BraxtonJ. M. & HirschyA. S. (2005). Theoretical developments in the study of college student departure. In SeidmanA. (Ed.), College student retention: Formula for student success (pp. 61–87). Westport, CT: Praeger.
13.
BraxtonJ. M.HirschyA. S. & McClendonS. A. (2004). Toward understanding and reducing college student departure. ASHE-ERIC Higher Education Research Report Series, 30(3). San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.
14.
CalderW. B. & MelansonD. C. (1994). Using student goals assessment research in planning retention initiatives. Journal of Applied Research in the Community College, 2(1), 35–48.
15.
CejdaB. D. (2007). Distance education in rural community colleges. Community College Journal of Research and Practice, 31, 291–303. doi: 10.1080/10668920701242688
16.
CoferJ. & SomersP. (2001). What influences student persistence at two-year colleges?Community College Review, 29(3), 56–76.
17.
CohenA. M. (1990). The case for the community college. American Journal of Education, 98(4), 426–442.
18.
CohenA. M. & BrawerF. B. (2008). The American community college(5th ed.). San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.
19.
CominoleM.WheelessS.DudleyK.FranklinJ.WineJ. & Hunt-WhiteT. (2007). 2004/06 Beginning Postsecondary Students Longitudinal Study (BPS:04/06) methodology report (NCES 2008–184). Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics.
20.
ConwayK. M. (2010). Educational aspirations in an urban community college: Differences between immigrant and native student groups. Community College Review, 37(3), 209–242.
21.
CorriganM. E. (2003). Beyond access: Persistence challenges and the diversity of low-income students. In KingJ. E.AndersonE. L. & CorriganM. E. (Eds.), New Directions for Higher Education, 121. Changing student attendance patters: Challenges for policy and practice (pp. 25–34). John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
22.
CoxR. D. (2006). Virtual access. In BaileyT. & MorestSmith V. (Eds.), Defending the community college equity agenda (pp. 110–131). Baltimore, MD: The Johns Hopkins University Press.
23.
CraigA. J. & WardC. V. L. (2007/2008). Retention of community college students: Related student and institutional characteristics. Journal of College Student Retention: Research, Theory & Practice, 9(4), 505–517.
24.
CrewsD. M. & AragonS. R. (2004). Influence of a community college developmental education writing course on academic performance. Community College Review, 32(2), 1–18.
25.
Deil-AmenR. (2011). Socio-academic integrative moments: Rethinking academic and social integration among two-year college students in career-related programs. The Journal of Higher Education, 82(1), 54–91.
26.
DerbyD. C. (2007). Predicting degree completion: Examining the Interaction between orientation course participation and ethnic background. Community College Journal of Research and Practice31, 883–894. doi: 10.1080/10668920600859350
27.
DoughertyK. J. (1994). The contradictory college: The conflicting origins, impacts, and futures of the community college. Albany, NY: State University of New York Press.
28.
DowdA. C. (2003). From access to outcome equity: Revitalizing the democratic mission of the community college. The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, 586, 92–119.
29.
DowdA. C. & CouryT. (2006). The effect of loans on the persistence and attainment of community college students. Research in Higher Education, 47(1), 33–62.
FikeD. S. & FikeR. (2008). Predictors of first-year student retention in the community college. Community College Review, 36(2), 68–88.
32.
Goldrick-RabS. (2010). Challenges and opportunities for improving community college student success. Review of Educational Research, 80(3), 437–469.
33.
GreenD. (2006). Historically underserved students: What we know, what we still need to know. In BraggD. D. & BarnettE. A. (Eds.), New Directions for Community Colleges 135: Academic pathways to and from the community college. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.
34.
HagedornL. S. (2010/2011). Introduction to the issue: Community college retention—An old problem exacerbated in a new economy. Journal of College Student Retention: Research, Theory & Practice, 12(1), 1–5.
35.
HagedornL. S.MaxwellW.RodriguezP.HocevarD. & FillpotJ. (2000). Peer and student-faculty relations in community colleges. Community College Journal of Research and Practice, 24, 587–598.
36.
HawleyT. H. & HarrisT. A. (2005/2006). Student characteristics related to persistence for first-year community college students. Journal of College Student Retention, Research, Theory & Practice, 7(1–2), 117–142.
37.
HornL.NevillS. & GriffithJ. (2006). Profile of undergraduates in U.S. postsecondary institutions: 2003–04, with a special analysis of community college students (NCES 2006–184). Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Education, Institute of Education Statistics, National Center for Education Statistics.
38.
HoytJ. E. (1999). Remedial education and student attrition. Community College Review, 27(2), 51–71.
39.
InmanW. E. & MayesL. (1999). The importance of being first: Unique characteristics of first generation community college students. Community College Review, 26(4), 3–22.
40.
KarpM. M.HughesK. L. & O'GaraL. (2010/2011). An exploration of Tinto's integration framework for community college students. Journal of College Student Retention: Research, Theory & Practice, 12(1), 69–86.
41.
LeveyT. (2010). The effect of level of college entry on midcareer occupational attainments. Community College Review, 38(1), 3–30.
42.
MartiC. N. (2008). Latent postsecondary persistence pathways: Educational pathways in American two-year colleges. Research in Higher Education, 49, 317–336.
43.
MendozaP.MendezJ. P. & MalcolmZ. (2009). Financial aid and persistence in community colleges: Assessing the effectiveness of federal and state financial aid programs in Oklahoma. Community College Review, 37(2), 112–135. doi: 10.1177/0091552109348045
44.
MutterP. (1992). Tinto's theory of departure and community college student persistence. Journal of College Student Development, 33, 310–317.
45.
NapoliA. R. & WortmanP. M. (1996). A meta-analysis of the impact of academic and social integration on persistence of community college students. Journal of Applied Research in the Community College, 4(1), 5–21.
46.
NippertK. (2000/2001). Influences on the educational degree attainment of two-year college students. Journal of College Student Retention: Research, Theory & Practice, 2(1), 29–40.
47.
O'ConnorN. (2009). Hispanic origin, socio-economic status, and community college enrollment. The Journal of Higher Education, 80(2), 121–145.
48.
OudenhovenB. (2002). Remediation at the community college: Pressing issues, uncertain solutions. In BersT. H. & CalhounH. D. (Eds.), New Directions for Community Colleges 177: Next steps for the community college. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.
49.
PascarellaE. T.PiersonC. T.WolniakG. C. & TerenziniP. T. (2004). First-generation college students: Additional evidence on college experiences and outcomes. Journal of Higher Education, 75(3), 249–284.
50.
PaulsenM. B. & St. JohnE. P. (2002). Social class and college costs: Examining the financial nexus between college choice and persistence. The Journal of Higher Education, 73(2), 189–236.
51.
PolinskyT. L. (2002/2003). Understanding student retention through a look at student goals, intentions, and behavior. Journal of College Student Retention: Research: Theory & Practice, 4(4), 361–376.
52.
PurnellR.BlankS.ScrivenerS. & SeupersadR. (2004). Opening doors: Support success services that may help low-income students succeed in community college. MDRC: Building Knowledge to Improve Social Policy. Retrieved from http://www.mdrc.org/publications/399/full.pdf.
53.
SantosM. (2004). The motivations of first-semester Hispanic two-year college students. Community College Review, 32(3), 18–34.
54.
SavageJ. S. & SmithA. B. (2007/2008). General and specific goal orientations as correlated of adult student degree completion: Lessons from the Community College of the Air Force. Journal of College Student Retention: Research, Theory & Practice, 9(4), 461–485.
55.
SchmidC. & AbellP. (2003). Demographic risk factors, study patterns, and campus involvement as related to student success among Guilford Technical Community College students. Community College Review, 31(1), 1–16.
56.
SeidmanA. (1993). Needed: A research methodology to assess community college effectiveness. Community College Journal, 63(5), 36–40.
57.
SeidmanA. (1995). The community college: A challenge for change. Community College Journal of Research and Practice, 19(3), 247–254.
58.
SmittleP. (1995). Academic performance predictors for community college student assessment. Community College Review, 23(2), 37–45.
59.
StraussL. C. & VolkweinJ. F. (2004). Predictors of student commitment at two-year and four-year institutions. The Journal of Higher Education, 75(2), 203–227.
60.
SummersM. D. (2003). ERIC review: Attrition research at community colleges. Community College Review, 30(4), 64–84.
61.
TabachnickB. G. & FidellL. S. (2007). Using multivariate statistics(5th ed.). Boston, MA: Allyn and Bacon.
62.
ThomasS. L. & HeckR. H. (2001). Analysis of large-scale secondary data in higher education research: Potential perils associated with complex sampling designs. Research in Higher Education, 42(5), 517–540.
63.
TintoV. (1975). Dropout from higher education: A theoretical synthesis of recent research. Review of Educational Research, 45(1), 89–125.
64.
TintoV. (1993). Leaving college: Rethinking the causes and cures of student attrition(2nd ed.). Chicago, IL: The University of Chicago Press.
65.
TwomblyS. B. (1993). What we know about women in community colleges: An examination of the literature. The Journal of Higher Education, 64(2), 186–210.
66.
VoorheesR. A. (1987). Toward building models of community college persistence: A logit analysis. Research in Higher Education, 26(2), 115–129.
67.
VoorheesR. A. & ZhouD. (2000). Intentions and goals at the community college: Associating student perceptions and demographics. Community College Journal of Research and Practice, 24, 219–232.
68.
WalpoleM. (2003). Socioeconomic status and college: How SES affects college experience and outcomes. The Review of Higher Education, 27(1), 45–73.
69.
WassmerR.MooreC. & ShulockN. (2004). Effect of racial/ethnical composition on transfer rates in community colleges. Research in Higher Education, 45(6), 651–672.
70.
WellsR. (2008). The effects of social and cultural capital on student persistence: Are community colleges more meritocratic?Community College Review, 36(1), 25–46.
71.
WittR. W. (2006). A success model for low-income students. Inquiry, 11(1), 65–73.
