WAUKESHA – The numbers tell the stories. By nearly every comparison, students who start college at one of the freshman-sophomore campuses of the University of Wisconsin, including UW-Waukesha, achieve degrees at a higher rate when they transfer to a baccalaureate institution than those who transfer from anywhere else.
The University of Wisconsin System Office of Policy Analysis and Research has compiled these telling statistics, based on data from 2001-2003, and reported them in January 2005. The UW Colleges, which is the freshman-sophomore institution within the UW System, is comprised of 13 campuses scattered throughout the state and a central office located in Madison.
While many UW Colleges students gained college admission with less complete credentials of preparation, they rise to the competition by the time they transfer.
After their first year at the 4-year school to which they have transferred, the UW Colleges’ students’ grade point averages (GPA) equal those of students transferring from other 4-year UW institutions:
- All transfers 3.0
- UW Colleges 3.1
- Tech College 2.8
- UW 4-yr. 3.1
They stay in school and keep working toward their degrees, showing the highest second-year retention rate among transfers:
- UW Colleges 80%
- UW 4-yr. 71%
- Out-of-state 68%
- Tech College 66%
- Private College 64%
Finally, they are more likely to graduate than other transfer students, earning bachelor’s degrees at the rates of:
- UW Colleges 78%
- UW 4-yr. 72%
- Out-of-state 66%
- Tech College 64%
- Private College 52%
While students may transfer at any point in their educational careers, those who complete the associate degree program at the freshman-sophomore campus tend to perform best when they transfer. However, an earlier transfer is more beneficial for students seeking certain technical degrees.
For a copy of the research report, contact Penny Kelsey, (262) 521-5258 or pkelsey@uwc.edu.
The University of Wisconsin-Waukesha has the largest enrollment among the 13 freshman-sophomore UW Colleges campuses. For information about programs, admission, or financial aid, contact the Student Services Office at (262) 521-5200 or visit the Web at waukesha.uwc.edu.
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