A new working paper from the Annenberg Institute at Brown University sheds light on the factors hindering community college students’ academic success, particularly for those from low-income backgrounds. The study highlights how financial stressors and mental health challenges contribute to lower completion rates at two-year institutions.
Previous research has shown that mental health is a leading factor in students leaving community college without completing their degree or certificate. While many students report that mental health services available on campus help them stay enrolled, participation in these services remains low. A significant portion of students do not engage with counseling resources, often due to barriers such as stigma or lack of awareness.
The Annenberg Institute’s recent study explores the relationship between mental well-being, campus involvement, and academic performance in the first year of college. The findings indicate a strong link between student engagement with campus resources and early academic outcomes. The research also reveals that students’ financial and mental health statuses are critical factors influencing their academic success.
“Our findings suggest that improving access to mental health support can play a key role in fostering student behaviors that lead to greater engagement and academic achievement,” the report states.
Financial Struggles and Mental Health
The study draws on data from a 2022 survey conducted at two Hispanic-serving community colleges. A total of 277 first-year students, enrolled in at least nine credits and with expected family contributions of $2,000 or less, participated. The survey collected information on students’ academic engagement, campus participation, financial concerns, and mental health.
Survey results revealed that many students face significant financial stress and are struggling with mental health issues. Over half of the respondents (54%) worked while attending college, with 44% working full-time for an average of 13.5 hours per week. In addition, nearly 41% of respondents reported experiencing some level of food insecurity, and 60% experienced housing insecurity. These challenges were particularly pronounced among independent students, who were more likely to report housing insecurity due to their responsibility for their own living expenses.
Furthermore, mental health concerns were widespread, with 38% of students reporting anxiety and 34% experiencing depression. Female students were notably more likely to report high levels of anxiety compared to their male peers. Despite these significant challenges, campus participation was relatively low, with only one-third of students attending campus events or career exploration activities.
Low Engagement and Academic Performance
The study also revealed that students spent, on average, only 13.5 hours per week studying, which is lower than national averages. Additionally, the average GPA of students was 2.49 in the fall term and 2.39 in the spring term. The report suggests that low engagement with campus resources and limited time spent on campus contributed to these lower academic outcomes.
However, the data also highlighted the importance of campus engagement in supporting student persistence. Researchers found that students who spent more time on campus were more likely to persist through to the next term and complete more credits. Specifically, every additional hour spent on campus was associated with an increase in credits earned.
Students experiencing depression were particularly impacted, completing, on average, one fewer course during their first year compared to their peers who did not report depressive symptoms.
Conclusions and Implications
The study confirms previous research on community college retention and persistence: financial difficulties, mental health struggles, and low levels of campus engagement are all associated with lower academic success. The findings underscore the need for targeted interventions to improve mental health support and campus involvement for community college students, particularly those facing financial hardships.
As the report highlights, addressing these barriers could play a crucial role in increasing retention rates and helping students overcome the challenges they face on their path to graduation.
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