Examining Socioeconomic Status: The Role of Transfer on Student Outcomes by Income

• In Event: Trajectories and Experiences of Community College Transfer

Abstract

Given the prevalence of transfer activity, education stakeholders must understand how transfer may be associated with student outcomes. Such knowledge is critical now, as the COVID-19 pandemic and economic downturn may have a relationship with enrollment and transfer activity. Using BPS:12/17 data, we conducted analyses using logistic regression to examine the relationship between the number of student transfers on bachelor’s degree attainment and employment status. Further, we analyzed whether this relationship varied by socioeconomic status, using adjusted gross income (AGI) as a proxy. We found that as the number of transfers increased, the odds of obtaining a bachelor’s degree and/or being employed six years after entering higher education statistically significantly decreased.

Authors

• Maurice Shirley, Indiana University

• Amanda Olsen, The University of Texas - Arlington

• Mehmet Kaplan, New Jersey Institute of Technology University

• Sehee Kim, Michigan State University