Getting past the first year

The percentage of first-time college students who stuck around for a second fall term has dropped 1.2 points since 2009, according to a report on retention out today from the National Student Clearinghouse. 

Of all first-time students who began college in fall 2012, almost 69 percent came back the following fall. Fifty-eight percent of those students returned to the same school. “Getting past the first year, either by staying put or by transferring to another institution, is one of the most important milestones to a college degree,” said Doug Shapiro, executive research director of the NSC’s research center.

 “Yet many students are not returning for their second year and, for too many of those, the option of finding a better fit at a different college seems to be narrowing. Instead of transferring, they are stopping out or simply dropping out altogether. We need to find better solutions for keeping students on track to graduation, whether that means the student transfers or stays put.” The report: http://politico.pro/1n9925s