Momentum
Credits Earned Within One Year: Washington
What Is Measured?
Percentage of students earning 30 or more credits within one year
Who Is Counted?
First-time students entering Washington Community and Technical Colleges in 2001-02
What It Tells Us
Among first-time Washington Community and Technical College students enrolled in 2001-02, about 21 percent earned a total of 30 or more college-level credits within one year.
Why It's Important
Researchers generally agree that students need to earn a certain number of credits during their first year to gain momentum toward completion and transfer. Although the probability of completing a certificate or degree increases almost linearly with the number of first-year credits completed, the indicators in this measure specify a particular threshold number of credits in the first year. Community college students who earn at least 20 credits in their first year are more likely to complete a certificate or associate degree and to earn a bachelor's degree than those who do not. Policies that encourage full-time and summer enrollment in the first year can facilitate early credit accumulation.