Moving Across Two-Year Institutions: Who Are Lateral Transfer Students? What Are Their Degree Outcomes?

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Session 8
  In Roundtable Session: College Access, Choice, and Transitions

Abstract

This study explores the predictors and degree outcomes for students who transfer between two-year colleges, called lateral transfer. I analyzed the Beginning Postsecondary Students 12:17 data using multinominal logit, logistic regressions, and matching models. Results show that lateral transfer students were significantly younger and more likely to start college in the spring semester than vertical transfer students or students who never transferred. Compared to students who never transferred, lateral transfer students were more likely to declare a major and had a higher degree aspiration in the first year. Six years later, lateral transfer students were more likely to earn all types of college credentials except for an associate’s degree, or still attend college if they had not yet earned any credentials.

Author

• Jungmin Lee, University of Kentucky