Survey Finds Up to 56% of Currently Enrolled College Students Likely to Transfer to Another Institution

National Transfer Network survey of 1,027 college students also finds that ‘transfer of most credits towards degree’ is the most important factor when selecting another institution

Estimates vary considerably regarding how many college students transfer

• “Estimates vary considerably regarding how many college students transfer. So, we decided to conduct our own survey. We discovered that 27% of the students who are currently enrolled in college say they are completely or very likely to transfer, another 29% are somewhat or slightly likely to transfer, and only 44% are not at all likely to transfer to another institution.”– Sean O’Brien, the Director of

Strategic Partnerships at Ashworth College

Network survey conducted in March 2014 using Google Consumer Surveys

• Written by the National Transfer Network, the survey was conducted in March 2014 using Google Consumer Surveys.– Users complete survey questions

in order to access high-quality content around the web.

• The survey used a screening question: “Are you currently enrolled as a college student?”– Out of 7,407 respondents, only

the 1,027 respondents who said “yes” to the screening question were then asked the subsequent questions.

37% of respondents were at 2-year and 63% were at 4-year institutions

32%

5%

42%

21%

At what type of institution are you currently enrolled as a college student?

At a 2-year public institu-tionAt a 2-year private institu-tionAt a 4-year public institu-tionAt a 4-year private institu-tion

60% attend classes on campus, 17% attend online, and 23% attend in both

60%17%

23%

Where do you attend classes?

On campusOnlineBoth

44% not at all likely to transfer to another institution, but 56% are

14%

13%

18%

11%

44%

How likely are you to transfer to another institution?

Completely likelyVery likelySomewhat likelySlightly likelyNot at all likely

Primary reason for considering transfer is to continue education

Other

An institution with a better reputation

A better fit

More/better program choices

Reduced costs/expenses

To continue my education

0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% 40% 45%

4%

9%

11%

15%

18%

0.43

What is your primary reason for considering transfer to another institution?

Transfer of most credits toward degree most import when selecting institution

Other

Institution with a better reputation

Availability of financial aid

More/better program choices

Reduced costs/expenses

Transfer of most credits toward degree

0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30%

3%

12%

15%

20%

23%

0.27

Which of the following will be the most important factor when selecting another institution?

Interests of college students vary, but all share desire to achieve a degree

• “The National Transfer Network’s study provides the supporting evidence those of us who have worked with students have long known through experience, and that is that students have many and varied educational interests, limited time, and scarce resources; yet they share a burning desire to achieve a degree.”– Dr. Michael Hillyard , former

university president and education consultant

For more details, download National Transfer Network Research Report

• The National Transfer Network is a non-profit organization founded in 2014 by progressive institutions acting proactively to solve the US college transfer problem for its member institutions and students.

• A detailed look at the results for college students currently enrolled at 2-year public, 2-year private, 4-year public, and 4-year private institutions can be downloaded for free at the National Transfer Network Research Report.