Key Issues and Policy Recommendations for Supporting Youth Formerly in Foster Care

Eighty percent of incoming community college students intend to transfer to a four-year institution, but only 16 percent ultimately attain a bachelor’s degree within six years. While some reasons for this low success rate are outside of institutional control, simplifying transfer requirements and providing clear, consistent advising can help smooth the transfer pathway for all students. This toolkit highlights key best practices from the research literature, outlining how both two-year and four-year institutions can support transfer student success.