Differences in Persistence and Graduation Rates of Hispanic Students in Texas Community Colleges: A Texas Statewide Study

Purpose The purpose of this journal-ready dissertation was to examine the 1-year persistence rates of Hispanic community college students in Texas for the 2007-2008 through the 2013-2014 academic years. Specifically, the relationship of the 1-year persistence rates for Hispanic students as a function of their institutional status (i.e., stayed or transferred) was analyzed. The 2-year persistence rates of Hispanic community colleges in Texas were also analyzed for the 2006-2007 through the 2012-2013 academic years. In addition, the graduation rates of Hispanic and White students in Texas community colleges from the 2008-2009 through the 2014-2015 academic years were examined. Furthermore, the degree to which a trend might be present in the graduation rates of Hispanic and White students at Texas community colleges was also ascertained.
Method In this investigation, archival data from the Texas Higher Education Board Interactive Accountability system were downloaded and analyzed in each of the three empirical studies. Specifically, archival data were obtained for the 1-year and 2-year persistence rates of Hispanic Texas community college students. Graduation data were obtained for Hispanic and White students attending Texas community colleges.
Findings
Inferential statistics revealed the presence of statistically significant differences in the 1-year persistence rates of Hispanic students in Texas community colleges by institutional status in the 2007-2008, 2008-2009, 2009-2010, 2011-2012, 2012-2013, and 2013-2014 academic years. Additionally, inferential statistics revealed the presence of statistically significant differences in the 2-year persistence rates of Hispanic students in Texas community colleges by institutional status in the 2006-2007 through the 2012-2013 academic years. The 1-year and 2-year persistence rates of Hispanic Texas community college students were higher when Hispanic students stayed at the same community college rather than when they transferred to a different community college. In regard to graduation rates, inferential statistical analyses revealed statistically significant differences in the 2008-2009, 2009-2010, 2010-2011, 2011-2012, and the 2012-2013 academic years. Although both Hispanic and White students had low graduation rates from Texas community colleges, the average graduation rates of Hispanic students were lower than the average graduation rates of White students. Implications for practice and recommendations for future research were provided.