There was a marked decline in the first-year persistence rate in fall 2020 after remaining stable for the past four years. The overall persistence rate dropped two percentage points to 73.9 percent for fall 2019 beginning college students, its lowest level since 2012.
COVID-19’s impact on colleges and universities nationwide is solidifying, according to research by the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center.
Review the Spring 2021 Current Term Enrollment Estimates Report, which provides national enrollment estimates by institutional sector, enrollment intensity, age group, gender, major field as well as state-level enrollment estimates.
With 94% of Clearinghouse institutions reporting, transfer enrollment at community colleges continues to be hit hardest by the pandemic, regardless of student group, gender, race and ethnicity, or age, while public four-year institutions remain the least affected among all sectors.
For this spring, COVID-19 accelerated the decline in transfer particularly for White and Black students, male students, and traditional college-age students.
To improve transfer rates amongst minority student groups, 3 associations have joined together in a partnership, called the Equity Transfer Initiative.
New report shows a looming completion challenge for community college students, as evidenced by the lowest number of associate degree earners in years.
COVID-19 has identified many legacy systems that aren’t as effective anymore, as well as accelerated important changes in how we understand the future of work. Educational institutions need to adapt to properly prepare the labor market for a rapidly changing future.
Doug Shapiro, Ph.D., Executive Director of the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center, discusses the state of higher education amid the pandemic, specifically the effect of the pandemic on college access for students, and the future of the higher education in 2021 and beyond.
During December, the Research Center delivered four very important reports to benefit colleges, universities, high schools, and policy leaders about fall 2020 enrollment trends throughout the nation.
