Community College Graduation among Marginalized Populations: Sexual Minority, Insecurely Housed, and Disabled Students

Janet Rosenbaum, University of Maryland

This research examines post-secondary degree attainment among three vulnerable populations of community college students: sexual minority, insecurely housed, and disabled students. The data was from Add Health respondents with high school diplomas enrolled in community college in 2001 (n=1310). Three post-secondary degree attainment outcomes were measured in 2008: any credential/degree, AA or above, and BA or above. Poisson regression with robust standard errors estimated incidence rate ratios. Seven years later, 60% of community college students had attained a post-secondary credential/degree. Sexual minority students were more than 40% less likely to attain each of the three education levels, unless they were ``out'' to parents. Factors that predict not achieving post-secondary degrees include having an imprisoned fathers, having been in a group home, and stuttering . Subsequent analyses will use causal inference methods to minimize confounding and identify factors that mediate the community college graduation outcomes.