Publication Details

Abstract

Using the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) 2012/17 Beginning Postsecondary Students Longitudinal Study (BPS:12/17), this research study explores the persistence to bachelor’s degree attainment of adult students. Specifically, this study looks at adult students who expected to earn a bachelor’s degree or higher, and analyzes whether those students who begin their postsecondary education at a 2-year public or private nonprofit institution are more or less likely to attain a bachelor’s degree compared to adult students who begin at a 4-year public or 4-year private nonprofit institution. Our findings indicate that, after controlling for common predictors of persistence such as high school GPA, receipt of Pell Grants, and other demographic data, adult students who begin at a 2-year public or private nonprofit institution are no less likely to attain a bachelor’s degree compared to adult students who start at a 4-year public institution. In addition, full-time enrollment intensity does not increase the odds of persistence compared to mixed enrollment intensity for adult students. 

Keywords: adult students, academic outcomes, community college, persistence, retention

Authors

• Andrea Chambers
• Hollie Daniels
• John Dooris
• Arlyn Y. Moreno Luna
• Sean Riordan

Acknowledgements

This material is based on work supported by the Association for Institutional Research and the National Center for Education Statistics. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Association for Institutional Research and the National Center for Education Statistics.

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