Dual Credit, College Type, and Enhanced Degree Attainment

Abstract

In this study, we analyzed data for the Illinois high school class of 2003 to determine the impact of dual credit participation on postsecondary attainment. We matched 8,095 dual credit participants to an equal number of nonparticipants within the same high school at the point of postsecondary enrollment using propensity scores calculated through a two-level hierarchical generalized linear model with college type as a posttreatment adjustment. Results indicate that community college students taking dual credit were significantly more likely to obtain a baccalaureate degree (28% to 19%, respectively) than their matched peers who did not participate in dual credit. We found similar improvements in postsecondary degree attainment for students attending colleges at multiple selectivity levels, although the largest and most robust effects were found for students starting at community colleges and at non/less competitive entry institutions.

Dual Enrollment, Performance-Based Funding, and the Completion Agenda: An Analysis of Post-Secondary Credential Outcomes of Dual Enrollment Students by Credential Type

“…This analysis adds to the growing literature on dual enrollment and post-secondary credential completion by analyzing a sample of matriculated college students and their likelihood of completing specific types of post-secondary credentials. Consistent with previous research, this analysis suggests that dual enrollment students are more likely to complete a post-secondary credential when compared to similar peers who did not participate in dual enrollment (An, 2013; Blankenberger et al, 2017). By running regression models by specific credentials, this analysis reveals that overall credential obtainment is spurned by an increased likelihood of completing a bachelor’s degree.…”

“…While the literature surrounding dual enrollment participation and college completion is just starting to emerge (An & Taylor, 2019), the early results show a positive correlation between the two (An, 2013; Blankenberger et al, 2017; Speroni, 2011; Struhl & Vargas, 2012). An (2013) utilized data from the NELS: 88 federal dataset and found dual enrollment students were 8% more likely to earn a college degree when compared to other college matriculated students.…”

“…An’s findings also held when controlling for lower socioeconomic status and parental income. Blankenberger et al (2017) utilized state data from Illinois and found that dual enrollment participants were 7% more likely to earn a college degree when compared to non-dual enrollment students and were 8% more likely to earn a bachelor’s degree. Speroni (2011) found that completing college algebra as a dual enrollment course was associated with a significant increase in associate and bachelor’s degree obtainment for Florida students.…”

Improving Institutional Evaluation Methods: Comparing Three Evaluations Using PSM, Exact and Coarsened Exact Matching

“…Further, when interventions are introduced, randomly assigning students to experimental and control conditions was not an option. Therefore, to improve our evaluations, we employed propensity score matching to analyze existing datasets and imitate the randomization process in traditional experimental design as carried out by other educational researchers (e.g., (Blankenberger et al, 2017a;Dietrich & Lichtenberger, 2015;Gehlhausen Anderson & Blankenberger, 2020;Lichtenberger et al, 2014;Lane et al, 2012;Taylor, 2015).…”

College Comes to High School: Participation and Performance in Tennessee’s Innovative Wave of Dual-Credit Courses

“…For DE, almost all observational studies report positive associations between participation and postsecondary outcomes, including college enrollment (Cowan & Goldhaber, 2015; Giani et al, 2014; Karp et al, 2007; Struhl & Vargas, 2012; Taylor, 2015), persistence (Allen & Dadgar, 2012; Giani et al, 2014; Hughes et al, 2012; Karp et al, 2007; Struhl & Vargas, 2012), and degree attainment (An, 2013; Blankenberger et al, 2017; Giani et al, 2014; Grubb et al, 2017; Karp et al, 2007; Struhl & Vargas, 2012; Taylor, 2015). 2 However, studies employing designs with stronger causal warrant have produced mixed results.…”