Beyond “front door” access: Attaining the bachelor's degree

Among students with similar characteristics who entered either a two- or four-year institution after high school graduation, factors that appear related to achieving the B.A. among those who begin at a two-year college are (1) clear goals and direction, (2) high motivation to achieve the B.A., (3) early contact with the four-year transfer institution, and (4) rigorous high school course preparation. Quantitative data were used to identify the empirical reality of attaining the bachelor's degree while qualitative data were employed to understand the meaning behind the outcomes. While most research on B.A. attainment measures quantitative outcomes in a causal manner, this study focuses on understanding the human meaning behind the numbers. The authors call for more qualitative research focused on the nature of the community college experience for particular student subgroups and for a multifaceted, all-out effort to change the potency of the community college experience for those planning to transfer.