September 20, 2017
CWID Data Note 10: Correlates of Credit Loss
While student transfer is a major component of the U.S. postsecondary education system, the loss of credits during transfer remains a significant issue. The following data note explores the drivers of credit loss in two states that were part of the Credit When it’s Due initiative.
The most current research using national data has estimated that between 40-65% of transfer students lose at least some credits at the time of transfer, and between 15-40% lose all or nearly all of their credits when transferring (Monaghan, Attewell, 2015). Still, little is understood about the most significant drivers of credit loss. Using data from the Credit When it’s Due (CWID) initiative, researcher Matt Giani sought to address that research gap by studying the drivers of credit loss in Hawaii and North Carolina. Some key findings from the study include:
- State context and pre-transfer attainment impacts credit loss: Whether earning a credential before transferring resulted in higher or lower credit loss varied by state. The finding suggests that studies combining data across states may mask understanding of factors that contribute to credit loss.
- More credits means more credit loss: In both states, the more credits students earned prior to transfer, the greater the extent of credit loss they experienced, on average; however, the pattern of credit loss differed by state.
- Race and ethnicity matter: In North Carolina, white students had the lowest rate of credit loss. In Hawaii, white students had the highest rate of credit loss, though the demographics of the state are less representative of the U.S. than North Carolina. Given the dearth of literature on the relationship between students’ demographic backgrounds and credit loss, future research should attend to potential disparities between student groups in the number and type of credits that the students are accumulating and the likelihood of transferring these credits.
- Institutions play a key role: Even though Hawaii and North Carolina have relatively coordinated higher education systems, the researchers found significant variation between institutions in the magnitude of credit loss students were predicted to experience. This finding highlights the importance of examining the course articulation and transfer policies and practices colleges are employing, even for institutions within the same system
For more details about the findings and report summary, view the full data note below. In addition, you can read the full academic article in the Research in Higher Education journal.
Credit When It’s Due (CWID) is a multi-foundation funded, multi-state initiative designed to facilitate the implementation of reverse transfer policies and processes that benefit college students who have transferred from the community college to the bachelor’s level and have not secured an associate’s degree at the time of transfer. CCRI is funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to research this initiative. Learn more about the full initiative here.