National surveys continue to show a significant gap between community college students’ aspirations and their bachelor’s attainment. Only 16 percent of community college students earn a bachelor’s degree within six years of entry—far fewer than the 80 percent who enter college with that goal. Yet, proven models nationwide demonstrate it doesn’t have to be this way.
The Transfer Playbook 2.0 report from the Aspen Institute and the Community College Research Center offers concrete strategies—informed by rigorous quantitative research, dozens of college interviews, and in-depth site visits—to help institutional leaders, faculty, and staff significantly close the gap between student aspirations and bachelor’s degree attainment.
The book itself features widely adaptable approaches from across the country such as prioritizing transfer at the executive level, aligning clear and coherent program pathways with high-quality instruction, and tailoring dedicated transfer advising with comprehensive nonacademic support.