Who Makes it in STEM? Transfer Pathways to Bachelor's and Graduate Education, National and State-Level Evidence
November 5, 2026, 8:30—10:00 a.m.
Community college students face significant barriers to bachelor’s degree completion. Transfer rates to four-year institutions have stagnated at roughly one-third of entrants, and only half of those who transfer complete a bachelor’s within six years. These challenges are even more pronounced for STEM-aspiring students: only 16% of community college students who completed a bachelor’s within six years did so in a STEM field, with even lower rates among low-income and Black students. This study uses National Student Clearinghouse data to map transfer and completion trajectories of STEM bachelor’s completers and graduate school enrollees across fields and across states. This research is the first to provide national and state-level evidence on STEM bachelor’s completion and graduate enrollment among community college students, and on the role of transfer pathway characteristics in shaping those outcomes.
Presenters
Tatiana Velasco, Senior Research Associate, CCRC