Trends and Issues in Community Colleges, 1988: Minority Student Transfer.

When compared with university freshmen, students beginning their collegiate studies at community colleges are less likely to attain a baccalaureate degree. After equating for differences in students ' entering abilities, socioeconomic background, employment status, on-campus residence, and pattern of attendance, however, this discrepancy narrows. Because minority students are over-represented in two-year college enrollments, any differential in progress is magnified for them. Reasons for the difference in baccalaureate attainment are difficult to ascertain because of the paucity of consistent information about student aspirations and progress. While there are no reliable national data sets concerning transfer rates and student outcomes, statewide data show that well-articulated community college and public university systems lead to significant proportions of university enrollment