Heading in the Right Direction? Examining the Relationship of Transfer Patterns and Income Status on College Student...

Area of Science:

• Higher Education Research
• Educational Policy
• Student Outcomes Analysis

Background:

• Student transfer is a prevalent activity in higher education.
• The COVID-19 pandemic and economic shifts have influenced college enrollment and transfer patterns.
• Understanding transfer's impact on student outcomes is crucial for educational stakeholders.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the relationship between student transfer direction and key student outcomes.
• To investigate how income status, proxied by adjusted gross income (AGI), moderates these relationships.
• To provide insights for educational policy and student support services.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of a sample of 6510 undergraduate students using BPS:12/17 data.
• Application of multiple regression to assess the association between transfer and student outcomes.
• Examination of differential effects across income levels.

Main Results:

• Transferring between postsecondary institutions is associated with an extended time to degree (approximately one academic semester).
• Student transfer correlates with increased cumulative loan debt.
• The impact of transfer on time to degree and loan debt varies significantly by student income status.

Conclusions:

• Student transfer can lead to longer completion times and higher debt burdens.
• Income disparities exacerbate the negative consequences of student transfer.
• Findings highlight the need for targeted support to mitigate transfer-related challenges, particularly for lower-income students.