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Measuring STEM Momentum: Early Indicators of STEM Transfer Success for Community College Students

By John Fink, Taylor Myers, Daniel Sparks & Shanna Smith Jaggars

This brief summarizes findings from a study of the postsecondary college transcript and degree records of hundreds of thousands of transfer-intending community college students in three states. The study explored and tested metrics that could be useful in the formative assessment of efforts to improve STEM transfer outcomes.

Findings show that first-year completion of a calculus course and first-year completion of a science, technology, or engineering (STE) course specified on statewide STEM transfer pathways are both reliable indicators of subsequent STEM transfer success across a wide range of state and institutional contexts. These two metrics are robust predictors of success among subgroups of students by race/ ethnicity and gender. In general, community colleges have relatively low rates of completion of these key STEM courses, and disparities in completion of these courses by race/ethnicity and gender are common. The STEM momentum metrics identified in the study may therefore be useful for colleges seeking to strengthen STEM transfer outcomes and close equity gaps in STEM bachelor’s degree attainment.

A CCRC working paper provides more details from this study.

Download research brief
November 2021
  • Evaluating the Potential of Community College Guided Pathways Reforms to Increase Undergraduate STEM Student Success

Related Publications

October 2023

Toward a Practical Set of STEM Transfer Program Momentum Metrics

February 2021

Can Dual Enrollment Algebra Reduce Racial/Ethnic Gaps in Early STEM Outcomes? Evidence From Florida

November 2016

A Longitudinal Analysis of Community College Pathways to Computer Science Bachelor’s Degrees

Additional Resources

For more policy briefs and fact sheets, visit CCRC’s Policy Resources page.

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