Alternative Secondary School Credentials and Community College Student Enrollment and Success.

Community colleges enroll all types of students, making an effort to recruit and enroll those who might not otherwise consider postsecondary education, including students who complete an alternative secondary education credential such as the GED. The study examined the enrollment patterns and success of students who complete such credentials over a 10-year period in Arkansas. Using state-level data from the Arkansas Department of Higher Education, a sample of nearly 30,000 students was examined. Of those who earned an alternative secondary school credential between 2012-2022, 72% enrolled in a public community college. These students earned, on average, two credentials, with the most common being General Studies or Allied Health. The study concluded that community colleges are the postsecondary choice for alternative credential earners and that over half of these students are successful in earning a credential that leads to the workforce or academic transfer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]