What are the Most Common Enrollment Patterns in Noncredit Education and Credit Education? Evidence From Iowa and California Community Colleges

The brief examines enrollment patterns among noncredit and credit students in Iowa and California community colleges and finds that most students remain in the type of program where they initially enroll, with relatively few transitioning from noncredit to credit coursework. Transition rates are substantially higher in California than Iowa, reflecting differences in how the states use noncredit education, and the authors suggest that stronger pathways between noncredit and credit programs could improve students’ opportunities for continued education and credential attainment.