Why Did They Leave? Learning from the Experiences of Former Community College Students. Research Report

Community College Research Center. Available from: CCRC Publications. Teachers College, Columbia University, 525 West 120th Street Box 174, New York, NY 10027. Tel: 212-678-3091; Fax: 212-678-3699; e-mail: ccrc@columbia.edu; Web site: http://ccrc.tc.columbia.edu/

N

20

Ascendium Education Group, Inc.

Community College Students; Dropouts; Academic Persistence; Student Educational Objectives; Student Experience; Student Attitudes; Decision Making; Community Colleges; Higher Education; Influences

California; Ohio; Maryland; Texas

Why do community college students leave college before earning a credential? In this report, the authors analyze novel longitudinal survey data from a sample of community college students who left college before the start of their second year to examine the factors that influenced their departure. Using two waves of survey data from 480 former students who attended one of four community colleges (in California, Ohio, Maryland, or Texas) in fall 2023 but left before fall 2024, the report documents the students' initial educational goals and expectations and their self-reported reasons for leaving college. It then explores how these reasons relate to students' experiences in college. The report also considers how colleges can work to prevent student departure. The findings suggest that students rarely leave college for a single reason; rather, departure decisions are shaped by a combination of factors, some of which could be addressed by colleges.

As Provided

2026

ED678724