TRANSFER STUDENTS

Community college, for many students, is just the first step in their higher education goals.

Rowan-Cabarrus Community College has long been a great place for students to acquire a transferable two-year associate degree. Many students earn these degrees and transfer to any number of public or private colleges or universities to earn bachelor’s degrees.

“Students are savvy consumers, and they’re seeking a two-year degree as a means of scaffolding their credentials in ways that make sense for them,” said Natasha Lipscomb, vice president of student success. “More and more, students are customizing their education.”

For many parents, it is increasingly difficult to figure out how they will be able to afford the cost of a college degree for their children. The rising costs of a college education present barriers to even middle class families.

“It’s not a secret that the cost of higher education has gone up,” said President Spalding. “In past decades, graduates could earn in salary what a bachelor’s degree cost. No longer. North Carolina community college tuition helps students get a better return on investment.”

Long gone are the days where the only path to a four-year degree was to go directly to a university. In fact, nearly half of all students graduating with a four-year degree in the 2016-17 academic year previously attended a two-year public institution. High-quality and affordably priced classes are persuading more students to begin their quest for a bachelor’s degree at a community college.

“About half of all Rowan-Cabarrus students intend to transfer and complete a bachelor’s degree,” said Lipscomb. “Our 15:1 faculty-student ratio means that our instructors – educated with a minimum of a master’s degree – can give each student the individual attention they deserve.”

Making the transfer process seamless and painless for students has become a big focus for the College. More students are transferring to earn bachelor’s degrees – in fact, the College has had an increase of thirteen percent from last year.

Rowan-Cabarrus also prepares students for success in their coursework at their ultimate transfer institution. Over 63 percent of the College’s transfer students outperform “native” students with a first year GPA of 2.5 or higher versus 56 percent for the system average.