What Do College Transfers Experience? A Latent Class Analysis of Subgroups Within Transfer Students

• In Event: Student Success: Programs, Policies, and Outcomes

Abstract

Due to the increase in college transfer students, previous research has examined student experiences and transferring. However, the research predominantly focuses on one transfer type, upward transfer from two-year colleges to four-year universities. Little is known about a typology within overall transfer students. This study explores the existence of subgroups within a college transfer group from ESL 2002 by conducting latent class analysis (n = 2,040). Using college experiences as indicators, it was significantly found that five subgroups exist; Advantaged, No-sociable, Low-interactive, Low-prepared, and Disadvantage. Furthermore, student contextual characteristics and transfer types are significantly associated with the odds of being a member of a particular subgroup. I will discuss the implication of those findings to policy makers and practitioners.

Author

• Shinji Katsumoto, Teachers College, Columbia University