Graduation rates: a comparison of college graduation success rates of dual enrollment versus non-dual enrollment students in the community college

摘要

Dual enrollment programs are designed to offer students academic opportunities and college access, along with the potential to decrease the amount of time it takes to complete a college degree and to lower the cost of college. This study was a comparison of college success rates for dual enrolled and non-dual enrolled students at a community college. The research study compared graduation success rate data from four consecutive years of high school graduates through the completion of their associate degrees. Five research questions were assessed. RQ1: Was there a statistical difference in the percentage of dual enrollment participants attending the target community college and those dual enrollment participants who did not attend the target community college? RQ2: Was there a statistical difference in the college graduation success rate of students who graduated from high school with earned college credit through dual enrollment and those students who graduated from high school without earned college credit through dual enrollment at the community college? RQ3: Was there a statistical difference in the percentage of student retention from first and second year of college for dual enrolled versus non-dual enrolled students? RQ4: Was there a statistical difference in the number of dual enrolled and non-dual enrolled students who graduated within three years? RQ5: Was there a statistical difference in the speed of completion of dual enrolled and non-dual enrolled students completing an associate degree within three years of their entry into college as a full-time freshman? Findings revealed that dual enrolled students in the study were more likely to complete degrees, retention was more likely for dual enrolled students, and students who had been dual enrolled in high school were more likely to graduate within the 3-years after high school graduation. Finally, this study concluded that dual enrolled students graduated at a greater speed of completion than did non-dual enrolled students.