The topic area focuses on community colleges, which are public, two-year postsecondary institutions. The studies in this topic area examine the effectiveness of community college policies and programs that are intended to improve academic persistence, degree/certificate completion, and labor market outcomes. The topic area focuses on linked learning communities, accelerated learning, and paid performance incentive programs. The topic area also focuses on community college bridge programs for students in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM), workforce program partnerships, and community-college based interventions intended to improve employment and earning outcomes and the attainment of industry-recognized certificates, certifications and credentials.
Community College
Status: Literature reviewed in this topic area currently covers 1994 - 2019.
Synthesis Reports
Synthesis reports look at the research evidence across studies within a topic area. They also highlight gaps in the literature, and suggest areas in which further research is needed.
Recently Added
CLEAR searches the existing literature for research relevant to this topic area's focus. Browse the most recently reviewed research below.
Study Type: Causal Impact Analysis
The study’s objective was to examine the impact of taking community college courses on the earnings of displaced workers in Washington State. The authors matched data from unemployment insurance…Early college, early success: Early college high school initiative impact study (Berger et al. 2013)
Study Type: Causal Impact Analysis
The study’s objective was to examine the effect of Early Colleges, which exposed high school students to college classes, on students’ high school achievement, persistence, and graduation; college…Study Type: Causal Impact Analysis
The study’s objective was to examine the impact of a learning community consisting of linked courses (a developmental math course and a student success course) on students’ retention and persistence…Study Type: Causal Impact Analysis
The study’s objective was to examine the impact of coordinated studies programs (CSPs) on students’ persistence in college. The authors used administrative data to compare reenrollment rates between…Study Type: Causal Impact Analysis
The study’s objective was to examine the impact of the Multi-State Advanced Manufacturing Consortium (M-SAMC) program participation on education outcomes. This summary focuses on the findings at…Study Type: Causal Impact Analysis
The study’s objective was to examine the impact of the BlendFlex program on community college students’ education outcomes. The study used a nonexperimental design to compare outcomes of students…Study Type: Causal Impact Analysis
The study's objective was to examine the impact of the Single Parent and Displaced Homemaker Program on education outcomes by students at an urban community college. The study used a nonexperimental…Study Type: Causal Impact Analysis
The study's objective was to examine the impact of Project GROW (Growing Regional Opportunities for the Workforce) on education, earnings, and employment outcomes. The study used a nonexperimental…Study Type: Causal Impact Analysis
The study's objective was to examine the impact of community college schooling on displaced workers’ earnings and employment outcomes. This summary focuses on the Washington State sample. The study…Study Type: Causal Impact Analysis
The study's objective was to examine the impact of the Displaced Workers Educational Training Program (DWETP) on earnings. This summary focuses on the Pittsburgh sample. The study used a…
CLEAR Icon Key
Below is a key for icons used to indicate important details about a study, such as its type, evidence rating, and outcome findings.
High Causal Evidence
Strong evidence the effects are caused by the examined intervention.
Moderate Causal Evidence
Evidence that the effects are caused to some degree by the examined intervention.
Low Causal Evidence
Little evidence that the effects are caused by the examined intervention.
Causal Impact Analysis
Uses quantitative methods to assess the effectiveness of a program, policy, or intervention.
Descriptive Analysis
Describes a program, policy, or intervention using qualitative or quantitative methods.
Implementation Analysis
Examines the implementation of a program, policy, or intervention.
Favorable
The study found at least one favorable impact in the outcome domain, and no unfavorable impacts.
Mixed
The study found some favorable and some unfavorable impacts in the outcome domain.
None
The study found no statistically significant impacts in the outcome domain.
Unfavorable
The study found at least one unfavorable impact in the outcome domain, and no favorable impacts.
Not applicable
Not applicable because no outcomes were examined in the outcome domain.
Favorable - low evidence
The study found at least one favorable impact in the outcome domain, and no unfavorable impacts. The study received a low causal evidence ratings so these findings should be interpreted with caution.
Mixed - low evidence
The study found some favorable and some unfavorable impacts in the outcome domain. The study received a low causal evidence ratings so these findings should be interpreted with caution.
None - low evidence
The study found no statistically significant impacts in the outcome domain. The study received a low causal evidence ratings so these findings should be interpreted with caution.
Unfavorable - low evidence
The study found at least one unfavorable impact in the outcome domain, and no favorable impacts. The study received a low causal evidence ratings so these findings should be interpreted with caution.