From Access to Persistence: Where Students Initially Attend College Matters

In recognition of the fact that returning for a second year is a good predictor of college completion, there is increasing policy focus on persistence in postsecondary education. Researchers at Chapin Hall have examined factors associated with college students returning after their first year to continue their studies. Examining two cohorts of Chicago youth who attended public school, they have learned that persistence in college is strongly related to the type of college that students initially attend.