Skip to content
  • Research

    Focus Areas

    • Dual Enrollment
    • Developmental Education
    • Guided Pathways
    • Advising & Student Supports
    • Teaching & Learning
    • Transfer
    • College to Career
    • Dual Enrollment
    • Developmental Education
    • Guided Pathways
    • Advising & Student Supports
    • Teaching & Learning
    • Transfer
    • College to Career

    Publications Library

    CCRC’s complete collection of publications

    Presentations

    Webinars and conference presentations with CCRC researchers

    Guided Pathways Workshops

    Materials from our do-it-yourself workshop series

    Policy Resources

    Our collection of federal policy briefs and fact sheets

  • About Us
    • About CCRC
    • CCRC Staff
    • Research Affiliates
    • Advisory Board
    • Biennial Report
    • Employment
    • Contact
    • About CCRC
    • CCRC Staff
    • Research Affiliates
    • Advisory Board
    • Biennial Report
    • Employment
    • Contact
  • News
    • CCRC in the News
    • Opinion
    • Press Releases
    • CCRC in the News
    • Opinion
    • Press Releases
  • Community College FAQs
  • Blog
  • Pandemic Recovery
  • Overview
  • Important Dates
  • FAQs
  • Overview
  • Important Dates
  • FAQs
  • Overview
  • Important Dates
  • FAQs

When College Students Start Behind

By Thomas Bailey & Shanna Smith Jaggars
Almost two thirds of students who enter community colleges every year are judged to be academically not ready to engage in college-level coursework. In order to enroll, these students typically must take one or more “remedial” or “developmental” math or English courses that will not count toward their college degree. The bulk of the evidence, however, suggests that the $4 billion annual investment in services to help underprepared students is having little positive impact on the success of those students in community colleges. This report for The Century Foundation’s College Completion Series reviews that research, describes findings from studies on four types of reforms underway at various colleges, and concludes with the argument that a wholesale redesign of the student experience at community colleges is needed to make a real difference in the outcomes of underprepared students.

Download Links

View report
June 2016

Related Publications

April 2015

Redesigning America’s Community Colleges: A Clearer Path to Student Success

Additional Resources

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

  • Our Research
  • About Us
  • Publications
  • News
  • Community College FAQs
  • Blog
  • Pandemic Recovery
  • Our Research
  • About Us
  • Publications
  • News
  • Community College FAQs
  • Blog
  • Pandemic Recovery

Community College Research Center, Teachers College, Columbia University
Box 174 | 525 West 120th Street, New York, NY 10027

  • 212.678.3091
  • ccrc@columbia.edu

© 2025. All rights reserved.

Facebook-f Twitter Linkedin Youtube Instagram
Join our mailing list
  • Our Research
    • Focus Areas
    • Publications Library
    • Presentations
    • Guided Pathways Workshops
    • Policy Resources
  • About Us
    • CCRC Staff
    • Research Affiliates
    • Advisory Board
    • Biennial Report
    • Employment
    • Contact
  • News
  • Community College FAQs
  • Blog
  • Pandemic Recovery
  • Our Research
    • Focus Areas
    • Publications Library
    • Presentations
    • Guided Pathways Workshops
    • Policy Resources
  • About Us
    • CCRC Staff
    • Research Affiliates
    • Advisory Board
    • Biennial Report
    • Employment
    • Contact
  • News
  • Community College FAQs
  • Blog
  • Pandemic Recovery