The Mixed Methods Blog

Perspectives from our researchers, highlights from recent studies, and other news about CCRC

How Can Community Colleges Afford to Offer Dual Enrollment College Courses to High School Students at a Discount?

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Many community colleges offer dual enrollment courses at a lower tuition rate than is paid by post-high school students. But—as dual enrollment students have come to comprise a larger share of community college enrollments—can colleges afford to continue offering these courses at a discount? Clive Belfield, Davis Jenkins, and John Fink consider how community colleges can structure their programs to be more efficient and financially sustainable.

What Happened to Community College Enrollment During the First Years of the Pandemic? It Depends on the Students’ Age

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For the first time following the pandemic, we can examine detailed state- and college-level enrollment trends by age group using the latest federal data. Senior Research Associate and Program Lead John Fink examines these numbers and offers three major takeaways on how community college enrollment changed during the pandemic.

An Opportunity to Expand College Access? Rethinking Dual Enrollment Eligibility Policies Post-Pandemic

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Suspended at the height of the pandemic, placement testing is back on the table as an option for determining eligibility for dual enrollment—what should states and colleges do? CCRC researchers John Fink, Sarah Griffin, and Maggie Fay share their recommendations in this blog post.

From “Random Acts” and “Programs of Privilege” to Dual Enrollment Equity Pathways

From “Random Acts” and “Programs of Privilege” to Dual Enrollment Equity Pathways

CCRC researchers describe an emerging approach to dual enrollment called dual enrollment equity pathways, or DEEP, in which community colleges partner with middle and high schools to motivate and prepare underserved students to pursue college pathways in fields of interest.

One Approach to Narrowing Equity Gaps in the Trajectories of Community College Students

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This blog post describes how colleges can take advantage of key opportunities to address racial/ethnic equity gaps by intervening early in students’ postsecondary careers.