Completion Rates and the Time It Takes to Earn a Degree in Community College Bachelor's Programs

Abstract

One of the intents of a community college bachelor’s degree (CCB) program is to smooth the pathway to a bachelor’s degree and into the workforce for community college students, reducing the time it takes these students to earn a degree and, as a result, lowering the overall cost. However, there is limited research on the extent to which these goals are achieved, and for whom.

Using a comprehensive dataset from Washington, this brief examines the completion rates, time to degree, and, by extension, affordability of CCB programs. Findings include: -- After two years, about half of CCB students graduate with a bachelor’s degree (46%). The three-year completion rates jump by 14% percentage points to 60% and steadily grow to 64%, 67%, and 71% by four, five, and six years after entry, respectively. -- CCB students consistently had higher completion rates within two-, four-, and six years relative to community-college-to-traditional-university transfer students. This was true across nearly every gender, race/ethnicity, and age group examined. -- CCB students took, on average, a little over two years to complete their degrees.

With a shortened time to degree and a lower cost, CCB programs are well-positioned to expand access to and achievement of the bachelor’s degree for traditionally underserved students.