The Importance of Supporting Transfer Students

By Adam

Did you know that only 8% of transfer students complete their degrees with the 2+2 formula? The 2+2 formula is the commonly known model where a student will study for 2 years at a community college before transferring to a bachelor’s degree to finish their last 2 years. This is what is often marketing to students in community college, but with limited resources, it is not always attainable for everybody.

By 2026 it is estimated that 6,900 community college students will transfer to a university. Nearly half of those students will not complete their bachelor’s degrees due to the lack of information surrounding transferring. Supporting students in their transition from community college to bachelor programs is integral to work towards more people having postsecondary credentials by 2030.

One of the best ways to support transfer students is simply making them aware of the resources available to them. Transfer advisors are at most community colleges and can help students map out their path to starting a bachelors program. These advisors can help students feel more confident in their ability to attend a university and integrate with the rest of the student body. Advisors can also help students understand what credits are able to be transferred, that way they are not taking classes that are not helping them earn their bachelor’s degree.

If transfer students are aware of the resources that are available to them, there is a higher chance that they will complete their bachelor’s degrees. To learn more about the importance of supporting transfer students, take a look at the infographic below:

Source: Kentucky Student Success Collaborative