Choosing a program of study is an important decision for community college students, in large measure because of the consequences it has for their future employment and earnings. Helping students to explore their interests and goals and choose a program of study is a focus of many colleges’ onboarding redesign efforts. Yet, there are many outstanding questions about how students make these choices: What factors are driving their decisions? How certain are they about their interests when they start college? And how do their decisions change over time?
In a November 19, 2025 webinar, CCRC researchers Hana Lahr and Veronica Minaya, and University of Pennsylvania researcher Rachel Baker shared findings from their longitudinal study exploring how students’ program and career choices evolve over time. Marisa Vernon White, vice president for enrollment management and student services at Lorain County Community College, also shared how her college is rethinking onboarding to focus on supporting student program exploration and onboarding.
The findings from four reports were the focus of the webinar:
- How Do Incoming Community College Students Think About Programs of Study and Potential Careers?
- How Community College Students Choose a Program of Study: Faculty and Staff Perspectives
- Why Did They Leave? Learning From the Experiences of Former Community College Students
- Selecting a Program of Study: How Certain Are Community College Students About Their Choice and Does It Change?
The presentation slides are available for download, and you can view a recording of the webinar below.
