Transfer Trends and Patterns Series: Report 2 Research Report No. 79-16 Office of Institutional Effectiveness and Student Success Initiatives DECEMBER 2016 NORTHERN VIRGINIA COMMUNITY COLLEGE OFFICE OF INSTITUTIONAL EFFECTIVENESS AND STUDENT SUCCESS INITIATIVES The purpose of the Office of Institutional Effectiveness and Student Success Initiatives is to conduct analytical studies and provide information in support of institutional planning, policy formulation, and decision making. In addition, the office provides leadership and support in research related activities to members of the NOVA community engaged in planning and evaluating the institution’s success in accomplishing its mission. When citing data from this report, the Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA) Office of Institutional Effectiveness and Student Success Initiatives must be cited as the source. 4001 Wakefield Chapel Road Annandale, VA 22003-3796 (703) 323-3129 www.nvcc.edu/oir Table of Contents Executive Summary ............................................................................................................ 1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................... 2 Post-Transfer Characteristics ......................................................................................... 3 A: Top Transfer Institutions ................................................................................................... 5 B: Majors at GMU, VCU, and JMU of NOVA Graduates: 2014-15 ......................................... 9 1. Majors of Transfer Students with NOVA A.A. Degrees: 2014-15 ................................. 11 2. Majors of Transfer Students with NOVA A.S. Degrees: 2014-15 ................................. 13 Conclusion ............................................................................................................................17 Appendix ...............................................................................................................................18 i List of Tables NOVA Transfers to Public and Private Four-Year Institutions: 2013-14 and 2014-15 ... 3 Top Four-Year Transfer Institutions for Any NOVA Student: 2013-14 and 2014-15 ...... 6 Top Four-Year Transfer Institutions of NOVA Graduates: 2013-14 and 2014-15 .......... 7 Transfers of NOVA Graduates by Degree Program and Top Transfer Institutions: 2014- 15 ......................................................................................................................................... 8 Majors at GMU, VCU, and JMU of NOVA Graduates: 2014-15 ...................................10 NOVA Graduates with A.A. Degrees who Transferred to GMU: 2014-15 ....................11 Source: NSC .............................................................................................................................11 NOVA Graduates with A.A. Degrees who Transferred to VCU: 2014-15 .....................12 NOVA Graduates with A.A. Degrees who Transferred to JMU: 2014-15 .....................12 NOVA Graduates with A.S. Degrees who Transferred to GMU: 2014-15 ....................13 NOVA Graduates with A.S. Degrees who Transferred to VCU: 2014-15 ...................15 NOVA Graduates with A.S. Degrees who Transferred to JMU: 2014-15 ...................16 List of Figures Type of Transfer Institution: 2013-14 and 2014-15 ...................................................... 3 Transfers to Virginia Four-Year Institutions by Minority Status and Gender: 2007-08 through 2014-15 ................................................................................................................... 4 Top 5 Public Four-Year Institutions: 2013-14 and 2014-15 NOVA Transfers ............... 5 Top 5 Private Four-Year Institutions: 2013-14 and 2014-15 NOVA Transfers ............. 5 Transfer Institution for NOVA Students who Transferred with a Degree: 2014-15 ....... 9 Appendix Data Tables Appendix Table 1. Number of NOVA Students Transferring into Public Four-Year Institutions: 2013-14 and 2014-15 ..........................................................................................................18 Appendix Table 2. Number of NOVA Students Transferring into Private Four-Year Institutions: 2013-14 and 2014-15 ..........................................................................................................26 ii Executive Summary Post-Transfer Characteristics The most popular type of institution where NOVA students transferred was a four-year institution (91 percent in the 2014-15 academic year). Nine percent of transfers chose another two-year institution. (Figure 1, page 3) The percentage of students who transferred to Virginia four-year institutions who were of minority status steadily increased from 31 percent of transfers in 2007-08 to 56 percent in 2014-15. (Figure 2, page 4) A. Top Transfer Institutions Any NOVA student: The transfer institution with the largest number of NOVA students in 2014-15 was George Mason University (29 percent). (Table 2, page 6) NOVA Graduates: Two-thirds of the students who transferred in 2014-15 with a NOVA degree transferred to one of three institutions: George Mason University (56 percent), Virginia Commonwealth University (7 percent), or James Madison University (3 percent). (Table 3, page 7 and Figure 5, page 9) B. Majors at GMU, VCU, and JMU of NOVA Graduates: 2014-15 Among the students who transferred to GMU, VCU, or JMU with a NOVA degree, the most popular majors at the transfer institutions were as follows: At GMU: Applied Information Technology and Accounting (Table 5, page 10) At VCU: Business Foundation and Biology (Table 5, page 10) At JMU: Accounting and Interdisciplinary Liberal Studies (Table 5, page 10) 1 Introduction Northern Virginia Community College students have unique backgrounds and varied educational and career goals. NOVA serves many students who enroll with the intention of transferring to a four-year college or university. NOVA strives to provide these students with a solid foundation to help them prosper at other institutions and in the workforce. This report is part of a series of reports examining transfer students. This report looks at post- transfer characteristics of NOVA students, including the most popular public and private four-year transfer institutions as well as common majors at the three most popular institutions, George Mason University, Virginia Commonwealth University, and James Madison University. Data are also presented on the relation between students' NOVA major and degree and transfer major at GMU, VCU, and JMU. Transfer figures are based on data from the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV) and the National Student Clearinghouse (NSC), as provided by the Virginia Community College System (VCCS). 2 Post-Transfer Characteristics This report focuses on students who transferred from NOVA upon enrollment at a transfer institution. Data are presented on the top transfer institutions for NOVA students and NOVA graduates as well as the most popular majors upon transfer (Section A). Additional information is provided regarding the association between NOVA major and major at three of the most popular transfer institutions, GMU, VCU, and JMU (Section B). The majority of NOVA students who transferred during the 2013-14 and 2014-15 academic years chose to enroll at four-year institutions (90 and 91 percent, respectively) (Figure 1). Type of Transfer Institution: 2013-14 and 2014-15 4-Year 2-Year Less than 2-Year 100% 10% <1% 9% <1% 80% 60% 90% 91% 40% Percentage of Transfers of Percentage 20% 0% 2013-14 2014-15 Academic Year Source: NSC The majority of NOVA students who transferred to four-year institutions in 2013-14 and 2014-15 transferred to public four-year institutions rather than private institutions (69 and 72 percent, respectively) (Table 1). NOVA Transfers to Public and Private Four-Year Institutions: 2013-14 and 2014-15 2013-14 2014-15 Institution Type # % # % Public 4-Year Institutions 5,933 68.7% 6,578 71.5% Private 4-Year Institutions 2,705 31.3% 2,622 28.5% Source: NSC 3 The number of students who transferred from NOVA to a four-year institution in Virginia increased every year from 2007-08 through 2014-15. There were 3,221 transfers in 2007-08 and 5,315 transfers in 2014-15, an increase of 65 percent in 7 academic years. The percentage of NOVA students who transferred to Virginia four-year institutions who were of minority status steadily increased from 31 percent of transfers in 2007-08 to 56 percent in 2014-15. (Figure 2). Consistent with the college-wide headcount, a larger percentage of students who transferred to a Virginia four-year institution were female students than male students (2,777 students, 53 percent of transfers in 2014-15). The percentage of minority male students as a percent of total transfers increased by 11 percentage points from 2007-08 to 2014-15. The proportion of minority female students increased by 14 percentage points over the same time period. Transfers to Virginia Four-Year Institutions by Minority Status and Gender: 2007-08 through 2014-15 Non-Minority Male Students Minority Male Students Non-Minority Female Students Minority Female Students 6,000 5,000 30% 25% 28% 4,000 25% 24% 21% 3,000 17% 25% 23% 16% 27% 23% # of Transfers of # 28% 37% 31% 2,000 38% 23% 26% 23% 26% 19% 21% 15% 15% 1,000 27% 31% 32% 29% 27% 24% 23% 22% 0 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15 Academic Year Source: SCHEV 4 A: Top Transfer Institutions