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Why Did They Leave? Learning from the Experiences of Former Community College Students. Research Report

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Title: Why Did They Leave? Learning from the Experiences of Former Community College Students. Research Report
Language: English
Authors: Estefanie Aguilar Padilla, Rachel B. Baker, Hana Lahr, Veronica Minaya, Columbia University, Community College Research Center (CCRC)
Source: Community College Research Center, Teachers College, Columbia University. 2025.
Availability: Community College Research Center. Available from: CCRC Publications. Teachers College, Columbia University, 525 West 120th Street Box 174, New York, NY 10027. Tel: 212-678-3091; Fax: 212-678-3699; e-mail: ccrc@columbia.edu; Web site: http://ccrc.tc.columbia.edu/
Peer Reviewed: N
Page Count: 20
Publication Date: 2025
Sponsoring Agency: Ascendium Education Group, Inc.
Document Type: Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education
Postsecondary Education
Two Year Colleges
Descriptors: Community College Students, Dropouts, Academic Persistence, Student Educational Objectives, Student Experience, Student Attitudes, Decision Making, Community Colleges, Higher Education, Influences
Geographic Terms: California, Ohio, Maryland, Texas
Abstract: Why do community college students leave college before earning a credential? In this report, the authors analyze novel longitudinal survey data from a sample of community college students who left college before the start of their second year to examine the factors that influenced their departure. Using two waves of survey data from 480 former students who attended one of four community colleges (in California, Ohio, Maryland, or Texas) in fall 2023 but left before fall 2024, the report documents the students' initial educational goals and expectations and their self-reported reasons for leaving college. It then explores how these reasons relate to students' experiences in college. The report also considers how colleges can work to prevent student departure. The findings suggest that students rarely leave college for a single reason; rather, departure decisions are shaped by a combination of factors, some of which could be addressed by colleges.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: ED678724
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
  Availability: 0
CustomLinks:
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  Data: Why Did They Leave? Learning from the Experiences of Former Community College Students. Research Report
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Estefanie+Aguilar+Padilla%22">Estefanie Aguilar Padilla</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Rachel+B%2E+Baker%22">Rachel B. Baker</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Hana+Lahr%22">Hana Lahr</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Veronica+Minaya%22">Veronica Minaya</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Columbia+University%2C+Community+College+Research+Center+%28CCRC%29%22">Columbia University, Community College Research Center (CCRC)</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22Community+College+Research+Center%2C+Teachers+College%2C+Columbia+University%22"><i>Community College Research Center, Teachers College, Columbia University</i></searchLink>. 2025.
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  Data: Community College Research Center. Available from: CCRC Publications. Teachers College, Columbia University, 525 West 120th Street Box 174, New York, NY 10027. Tel: 212-678-3091; Fax: 212-678-3699; e-mail: ccrc@columbia.edu; Web site: http://ccrc.tc.columbia.edu/
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  Data: N
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  Data: 20
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  Data: 2025
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  Data: Ascendium Education Group, Inc.
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– Name: Subject
  Label: Descriptors
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Community+College+Students%22">Community College Students</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Dropouts%22">Dropouts</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Academic+Persistence%22">Academic Persistence</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Student+Educational+Objectives%22">Student Educational Objectives</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Student+Experience%22">Student Experience</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Student+Attitudes%22">Student Attitudes</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Decision+Making%22">Decision Making</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Community+Colleges%22">Community Colleges</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Higher+Education%22">Higher Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Influences%22">Influences</searchLink>
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  Label: Geographic Terms
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22California%22">California</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Ohio%22">Ohio</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Maryland%22">Maryland</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Texas%22">Texas</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: Why do community college students leave college before earning a credential? In this report, the authors analyze novel longitudinal survey data from a sample of community college students who left college before the start of their second year to examine the factors that influenced their departure. Using two waves of survey data from 480 former students who attended one of four community colleges (in California, Ohio, Maryland, or Texas) in fall 2023 but left before fall 2024, the report documents the students' initial educational goals and expectations and their self-reported reasons for leaving college. It then explores how these reasons relate to students' experiences in college. The report also considers how colleges can work to prevent student departure. The findings suggest that students rarely leave college for a single reason; rather, departure decisions are shaped by a combination of factors, some of which could be addressed by colleges.
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  Data: As Provided
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  Data: 2026
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  Data: ED678724
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=eric&AN=ED678724
RecordInfo BibRecord:
  BibEntity:
    Languages:
      – Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 20
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Community College Students
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Dropouts
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Academic Persistence
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Student Educational Objectives
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      – SubjectFull: Student Experience
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      – SubjectFull: Student Attitudes
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      – SubjectFull: Decision Making
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      – SubjectFull: Community Colleges
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Higher Education
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Influences
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      – SubjectFull: California
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      – SubjectFull: Ohio
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      – SubjectFull: Texas
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      – TitleFull: Why Did They Leave? Learning from the Experiences of Former Community College Students. Research Report
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