College Transfers On The Rise: More Students Attending More Than One Institution

When students enroll at Grand Valley State University, they’re more likely now than a decade ago to take a class or two at another institution – typically a community college – as they pursue their degree. Twenty percent of GVSU students in the 2010-2011 academic year had accumulated some credits at another institution since starting at the university. That’s up from 11 percent a decade ago. Administrators at West Michigan colleges and universities say the data reflects a trend that is playing out at colleges and universities around the nation: More students are transferring – or taking classes at another institution – before earning a degree. According to a study by the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center, one-third of students who began their college education in 2006 transferred to another institution at least once before earning a degree.