Are university students better prepared for higher education than are community college students?

Abstract

This study was undertaken with the primary objective of determining whether community college students were as well prepared for success in higher education as students who began their advance training in a university. A relatively small southwestern state university and an adjacent community college were chosen as the site for this study. Classes at each institution were selected on the basis of content similarity given the fact that no two classes were exactly alike. The study then examined the differences and similarities between the course content and the students in them. The primary focus was on the students, first to determine if the respective groups from the community college and from the university represented the same or different populations. Criteria for this aspect of the study included social characteristics, performance, motivation and aspirations. Demographic data were also gathered to provide a general basis upon which to make a comparative analysis of the participants. The respective learning environments were then examined for comparability of content, teaching styles, bias and others. Significant similarity was found in a number of criteria, but it was clear that community college students generally came from a lower class, did less well in high school and seemed to improve rapidly. However, without further analysis it cannot be determined if the community college students are capable of survival in the academic environment of a university. Competency exams in the academic areas are suggested as a method of validating the knowledge and preparation of the community college students.