The Relationship Between Regional Accreditors and Transfer Student Graduation Rates: An Exploratory Quantitative Analysis

• In Event: Building Bridges for Community College Success: Evaluating the Role of Policy, Funding, and Accreditation

Abstract

While there have been many policy attempts to improve transfer student success, nationwide outcomes for transfer students have remained consistently low. This paper answers the scholarly call to examine an understudied area of policy, accreditation, as a potential lever for improving transfer outcomes. This quantitative study uses nationwide data to explore the relationship between accreditors and institutional transfer graduation rates. Initial results indicate systematic differences in average institutional transfer graduation rates between accreditors over time. The study makes an important contribution by providing baseline information on how accreditation relates to transfer outcomes. The study also provides a model for how to consider accreditation as an institutional characteristic when examining institutional outcomes nationwide.

Author

• Charity Lewallen, Southern Methodist University