ERIC-CC EdInfo: Degree Aspirations of Community College Students

Degree Aspirations of Community College Students

EDINFO 2001-08
August, 2001
ERIC Clearinghouse for Community Colleges

This study draws on survey data from the Cooperative Institutional Research Program (CIRP) to assess and compare the degree aspirations of first-time, full-time students enrolled in two-year private and public colleges that offer the associates degree. The sample, drawn in the fall of 1996, includes 13,801 students from 50 public and 25 private community colleges across the nation. The CIRP Student Information Form (SIF) survey instrument includes information on biographical, demographic, and past educational experiences as well as questions on career plans, educational aspirations, attitudes, beliefs, and self-concepts.

Student Profile

Women make up about 50% of the student population for both groups and almost 50% of the student population are of traditional age (i.e. below 24).
Students at private two-year colleges are more likely to have parents who completed a postsecondary degree than their counterparts at public schools, but reported parental income was similar for both groups.
Reported High School GPA for both groups was similar.

Degree Aspirations

40% of public and 37% of private students indicated that they aspired to obtain an associate’s degree while in attendance at their community college.

50% of both public and private students indicated that they aspired to obtain a bachelor’s degree. Additionally, 25% of public students and 28% of private students reported aspiring to a Master’s degree, and 10% of public and 14% of private indicated that they aspired to a Doctorate Degree.

Traditional age students are more likely to aspire to higher degree aspirations.

Conclusion

Though both groups have similar degree aspiration trajectories, students who attend private two-year colleges are more likely to aspire to higher degree beyond the bachelor’s than their counterparts at public two year colleges.

This information was reported in ED442497, "Two-Year College Students’ Degree Aspirations" by Frankie Santos-Laanan. A full-text copy of this document may be obtained by contacting ERIC Document Reproduction Services (EDRS), 7420 Fullerton Road, Suite 110, Springfield, VA 22153-2852; or by calling (800) 443-ERIC. This project has been funded at least in part with Federal funds from the U.S. Department of Education under contract number ED-99-CO-0010. The content of this publication does not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the U.S. Department of Education nor does mention of trade names, commercial products, or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. Government. ERIC EdInfos are in the public domain and may be freely reproduced.