Volume 9 / Number 1 /September 1999
San Mateo County Community
College District Transfer and Degree/
Certificate Completion Rates
Fall 1995 - Spring 1998
In compliance with the 1998 Amendments to the
Federal Higher Education Act of 1965, it is the
policy of the Colleges to make available standardized
measures of educational effectiveness to all current
and prospective students. Beginning Fall 1995, a
cohort of all Associate Degree, Certificate, transferseeking first-time, full-time students at each District
College were tracked over a three year period, through
Spring 1998. Their transfer rates and Associate
Degree/Certificate completion rates are presented
below. [College-specific data for all 106 California
Community Colleges is provided in the following
tables.]
As these data indicate, District College transfer rates
and Associate Degree/Certificate completion rates are
higher than the Statewide average:
Institution
Transfer Rate Completion Rate
Cañada
38.1%
41.8%
CSM
36.3%
39.9%
Skyline
29.6%
35.5%
Statewide Average
23.1%
34.3%
In addition, comparative data on college effectiveness
is presented for 23 California Community Colleges
located in the greater San Francisco Bay area. [See
following graphs.] As these data indicate, District
College transfer rates and Associate Degree/Certificate completion rates rank as follows: Cañada: 6th and
2nd; CSM: 8th and 4th; and Skyline: 13th and 8th.
It is important to note that these rates are governed
by strict Federally-mandated regulations and are
derived from the Federal Integrated Postsecondary
Educational Data System [IPEDS]. IPEDS data does
not represent the “success rate” of the entire District
student population, nor can it account for student
outcomes occurring after the three-year tracking
period. Rates are influenced by a wide range of
factors including, student demographics, community
demographics, curricular offerings, and local economies. In addition, how students chose to state their
official educational objective at the time of completing their initial application for admission to a College
influences these rates. Many students, especially those
who are working and attend District Colleges parttime or in the evenings only, take more than three
years [the period of time over which students are
tracked by IPEDS] to complete their objectives.
Students who transfer to a college or university
outside the State of California are also excluded by
the IPEDS database. In addition, many students
attend District Colleges in order to upgrade their job
skills and do not intend to transfer or complete a
Certificate. Although these students successfully
achieve their educational objectives at a District
College, they are not included in the rates presented in
the accompanying tables.
While the relative “success” rates referenced on the
attached tables and charts appear to provide a baseline
of information regarding the critical areas of transfer
and degree/certificate completion, they need to be
understood in the larger context of the California
system of higher education and the massive numbers
of students involved. The California Community
Colleges enroll approximately 1.5 million students.
The University of California [UC] and the California
State University [CSU] together enroll approximately
400,000 undergraduate students. An “overall transfer
rate” of 29% would produce more students for UC
and CSU combined than they currently enroll in all
undergraduate programs. Yet, public perception
usually expects a transfer rate greater than 50%.
College transfer rates will require corresponding
increases in undergraduate capacity at UC and CSU,
or corresponding decreases in the admission of native
UC and CSU students, or some combination of both.
Another way to consider the Statewide transfer
phenomenon is as follows: Two-thirds of the students
who graduate from CSU are California Community
College transfers. One-third of the students who
graduate from UC are California Community College
transfers. Significant increases in overall Community
S . F. BAY ARE A C OM M UN IT Y C OL LE G E S
T RANS FER R AT E S
[1998]
50%
45.9%
43.7%
45%
40.7%
40.0% 39.4%
40%
38.1%
37.0% 36.3%
35%
32.3%
31.3% 31.3%
29.9% 29.6% 29.5%
Transfer Rate %
30%
STA TE W IDE AV E RA G E
23.1%
28.1%
24.5% 24.3%
25%
23.3%
22.6% 22.3%
21.3%
20.4%
20%
15%
13.6%
10%
5%
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S . F . B A Y AR E A C O MMU N IT Y C O L L E G E S
A S S O C IAT E D E G R E E & C E R T IF IC AT E C O MP L E T IO N R AT E S
[1998]
48.8%
50%
45%
41.8% 41.2%
40%
39.9%
S TATE W ID E AVE R AGE
34.3%
39.0% 38.9%
38.0%
35.5% 35.4%
Completion Rate %
35%
34.1% 33.7% 33.4%
32.3%
28.8% 28.2%
30%
26.7% 26.5%
24.7% 24.6%
25%
22.5% 21.8%
21.1%
19.8%
20%
15%
10%
5%
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CALIFORNIA COMMUNITY COLLEGES
TRANSFER RATES
[1998]
Rank
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
College Name
COASTLINE
MERRITT
SAN DIEGO MIRAMAR
EVERGREEN
FULLERTON
VISTA
MARIN
LANEY
CANADA
FOOTHILL
SAN MATEO
CUYAMACA
RIO HONDO
CYPRESS
ALAMEDA
SAN DIEGO MESA
LAS POSITAS
SAN JOSE CITY
SAN DIEGO CITY
RANCHO SANTIAGO
DEANZA
SISKIYOUS
SKYLINE
MISSION
MT SAN JACINTO
W EST VALLEY
SACTO CITY
LA SW EST
SANTA BARBARA
GOLDEN W EST
CONSUMNES RIVER
IRVINE
OXNARD
LAKE TAHOE
AMERICAN RIVER
CUESTA
YUBA
GROSSMONT
OHLONE
MOORPARK
LOS MEDANDOS
COMPTON
W EST LA
BUTTE
COLUMBIA
LONG BEACH
CONTRA COSTA
LA PIERCE
CITRUS
CERRITOS
CABRILLO
SIERRA
GAVILAN
Transfer
Rate
81.8%
45.9%
45.3%
43.7%
43.2%
40.7%
40.0%
39.4%
38.1%
37.0%
36.3%
36.2%
35.6%
33.2%
32.3%
31.7%
31.3%
31.3%
30.3%
30.1%
29.9%
29.6%
29.6%
29.5%
28.1%
28.1%
28.0%
27.8%
27.1%
26.8%
26.3%
26.3%
26.3%
26.2%
26.1%
25.9%
25.1%
24.9%
24.5%
24.4%
24.3%
24.0%
24.0%
23.8%
23.6%
23.4%
23.3%
23.2%
23.0%
22.8%
22.6%
22.6%
22.5%
ST AT EW IDE AVERAGE
23.1%
Rank
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
College Name
MT SAN ANTONIO
CHABOT HAYW ARD
KINGS RIVER
IMPERIAL
ORANGE COAST
MENDOCINO
DIABLO VALLEY
REDW OODS
EL CAMINO
PASADENA
VENTURA
GLENDALE
SOLANO
RIVERSIDE
MIRA COSTA
W EST HILLS
CHAFFEY
PALOMAR
LA VALLEY
LA CITY
DESERT
FEATHER RIVER
MERCED
SOUTHW ESTERN
LA HARBOR
FRESNO CITY
SANTA MONICA
CANYONS
HARTNELL
BAKERSFIELD
CRAFTON HILLS
EAST LA
LA TRADE
MONTEREY
SHASTA
BARSTOW
TAFT
SEQUOIAS
ANTELOPE VALEY
SADDLEBACK
SANTA ROSA
MODESTO
NAPA
PALO VERDE
VICTOR VALLEY
SAN FRANCISCO
LA MISSION
SAN BERNARDINO
ALLAN HANCOCK
SAN JOAQUIN DELTA
CERRO COSO
LASSEN
PORTERVILLE
Transfer
Rate
22.4%
22.3%
22.3%
22.2%
22.1%
22.0%
21.3%
21.3%
21.0%
20.8%
20.8%
20.6%
20.4%
19.8%
19.7%
19.6%
19.4%
19.3%
19.0%
18.8%
18.0%
17.9%
17.8%
17.8%
17.6%
17.5%
17.3%
17.0%
17.0%
16.8%
16.7%
16.7%
16.4%
16.0%
15.6%
15.4%
15.0%
14.9%
14.8%
14.7%
14.7%
14.4%
14.4%
14.3%
14.0%
13.6%
13.0%
12.1%
12.0%
11.5%
10.2%
10.2%
8.4%
C AL IF O R N IA C O M M U N IT Y C O L L E G E S
A S S O C IAT E D E G R E E & C E R T IF IC AT E C O M P L E T IO N R AT E S
[1998]
R ank
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
C o lle g e N a m e
P OR TE RV IL L E
S A N F R A NC IS C O
F E A TH E R RIV E R
H A RTNE L L
IRV IN E
NAPA
S A D D LE B A C K
O RA NGE C O A S T
TA F T
C ANADA
W E S T V A LLE Y
M E RC E D
S A NTA RO S A
S A NTA B A R B A RA
C O L UM B IA
GLE ND A LE
C A N Y ON S
M OO RP A RK
S A N M A TE O
A L L A N HA NC O C K
L A P IE RC E
D IA B L O V A L L E Y
L A S P O S ITA S
LA S S E N
M ON TE RE Y
O HL O NE
LA V A LLE Y
L A H A RB O R
IM P E RIA L
S IE RRA
M IRA C O S TA
V E NTURA
K IN GS R IV E R
P A LOMA R
GOLD E N W E S T
M OD E S TO
S A N J O A Q UIN D E L TA
S HA S TA
S K Y L INE
S OL A NO
C UE S TA
P A S A D E NA
S E Q UOIA S
M IS S ION
R A NC HO S A NTIA G O
S A NTA M O NIC A
S A C TO C ITY
C HA B OT H A Y W A RD
A M E RIC A N RIV E R
D E A NZA
G A V IL A N
B UTTE
A LA ME D A
C o m p le t io n
R ate
5 3 .7 %
4 8 .8 %
4 8 .7 %
4 6 .7 %
4 6 .7 %
4 5 .0 %
4 4 .9 %
4 4 .7 %
4 2 .5 %
4 1 .8 %
4 1 .2 %
4 1 .0 %
4 0 .9 %
4 0 .8 %
4 0 .2 %
4 0 .1 %
4 0 .0 %
4 0 .0 %
3 9 .9 %
3 9 .7 %
3 9 .5 %
3 9 .0 %
3 8 .9 %
3 8 .9 %
3 8 .5 %
3 8 .0 %
3 7 .9 %
3 7 .8 %
3 7 .0 %
3 6 .8 %
3 6 .7 %
3 6 .6 %
3 6 .5 %
3 6 .2 %
3 5 .8 %
3 5 .8 %
3 5 .8 %
3 5 .5 %
3 5 .5 %
3 5 .4 %
3 5 .2 %
3 4 .7 %
3 4 .7 %
3 4 .1 %
3 4 .1 %
3 4 .1 %
3 3 .9 %
3 3 .7 %
3 3 .5 %
3 3 .4 %
3 3 .3 %
3 2 .4 %
3 2 .3 %
S T A T E W IDE A V E RA G E
3 4 .3 %
R ank
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
C o lle g e N a m e
B A K E RS F IE L D
G RO S S M O NT
C ITRUS
Y UB A
A NTE L O P E V A L E Y
E L C A M INO
E A S T LA
S OU THW E S TE RN
C UY A M A C A
C E R RO C O S O
F RE S NO C ITY
L A M IS S IO N
W E S T HIL L S
M T S A N A NTO NIO
S A N D IE GO M E S A
RED W OODS
C O NTRA C O S TA
C O NS U M NE S RIV E R
L A NE Y
L ONG B E A C H
C HA F F E Y
S IS K IY O US
V IC TO R V A L L E Y
C Y P RE S S
M A RIN
C E R RITOS
C A B RIL L O
L A C ITY
L A TRA D E
D E S E RT
F UL L E RTO N
S A N D IE GO C ITY
M T S A N J A C INTO
F O O THIL L
S A N J O S E C ITY
M E ND O C INO
O X N A RD
R IV E RS ID E
M E RRITT
E V E RG RE E N
L OS M E D A ND OS
W E S T LA
V IS TA
L A K E TA HO E
S A N D IE GO M IRA M A R
R IO HO ND O
B A RS TO W
C O A S TL INE
P A L O V E RD E
C RA F TO N HIL L S
C O M P TON
S A N B E RN A RD INO
LA SW EST
C o m p le t io n
R ate
3 2 .1 %
3 2 .1 %
3 2 .0 %
3 1 .9 %
3 1 .5 %
3 1 .4 %
3 1 .3 %
3 1 .2 %
3 1 .1 %
3 0 .6 %
3 0 .6 %
3 0 .4 %
2 9 .5 %
2 9 .2 %
2 9 .2 %
2 8 .9 %
2 8 .8 %
2 8 .8 %
2 8 .2 %
2 8 .2 %
2 7 .4 %
2 7 .2 %
2 7 .1 %
2 7 .0 %
2 6 .7 %
2 6 .6 %
2 6 .5 %
2 6 .3 %
2 6 .2 %
2 6 .1 %
2 6 .1 %
2 5 .7 %
2 5 .4 %
2 4 .7 %
2 4 .6 %
2 4 .4 %
2 3 .7 %
2 2 .9 %
2 2 .5 %
2 1 .8 %
2 1 .1 %
2 0 .0 %
1 9 .8 %
1 9 .7 %
1 8 .9 %
1 5 .6 %
1 5 .4 %
9 .1 %
7 .1 %
5 .6 %
4 .0 %
3 .0 %
0 .0 %
For further information, please contact the
Office of Articulation and Research.
Telephone: (650) 574-6196
Fax: (650) 574-6680
Internet: sewart@smcccd.cc.ca.us