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Beyond Access and Enrollment: How Distance Relates to Persistence and Degree Completion among Students Attending In-State Public Institutions

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Title: Beyond Access and Enrollment: How Distance Relates to Persistence and Degree Completion among Students Attending In-State Public Institutions
Language: English
Authors: Alex E. Combs
Source: Journal of Postsecondary Student Success. 2026 5(2):6-29.
Availability: Center for Postsecondary Success at Florida State University. 1114 W Call Street, Tallahassee, FL 32306. Web site: https://journals.flvc.org/jpss/
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 23
Publication Date: 2026
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Education Level: High Schools
Secondary Education
Higher Education
Postsecondary Education
Two Year Colleges
Descriptors: High School Graduates, College Bound Students, Proximity, In State Students, Public Colleges, Educational Attainment, Academic Persistence, Associate Degrees, Bachelors Degrees, Economic Factors, Access to Education, Geographic Location, Time to Degree
Geographic Terms: Kentucky
ISSN: 2769-4879
2769-4887
Abstract: Students travel varying distances to attend college, and while the relationship between distance and enrollment is well established, its role in outcomes after enrollment is less understood. This study examines how distance from high school to college predicts persistence and degree completion among Kentucky public high school graduates who enrolled at in-state public institutions between 2009 and 2016. For associate degree seekers, a one-standard-deviation increase in distance (27 miles) reduces the likelihood of persistence by 3% and degree completion within four years by 14%. For bachelor's degree seekers, distance reduces the probability of persisting to the second year, but moderate distances are associated with higher four-year completion: An additional 10 miles from the average of 50 miles increases completion probability by 1.5%. These findings highlight the potential for institutions to incorporate distance as a simple, observable indicator of student risk. Combined with information on campus residency status, distance can be used in retention strategies to identify students more likely to struggle and to target interventions that improve persistence and degree completion.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: EJ1502430
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
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  Data: Beyond Access and Enrollment: How Distance Relates to Persistence and Degree Completion among Students Attending In-State Public Institutions
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  Data: Center for Postsecondary Success at Florida State University. 1114 W Call Street, Tallahassee, FL 32306. Web site: https://journals.flvc.org/jpss/
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22High+School+Graduates%22">High School Graduates</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22College+Bound+Students%22">College Bound Students</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Proximity%22">Proximity</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22In+State+Students%22">In State Students</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Public+Colleges%22">Public Colleges</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Educational+Attainment%22">Educational Attainment</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Academic+Persistence%22">Academic Persistence</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Associate+Degrees%22">Associate Degrees</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Bachelors+Degrees%22">Bachelors Degrees</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Economic+Factors%22">Economic Factors</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Access+to+Education%22">Access to Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Geographic+Location%22">Geographic Location</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Time+to+Degree%22">Time to Degree</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Kentucky%22">Kentucky</searchLink>
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  Data: 2769-4879<br />2769-4887
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  Data: Students travel varying distances to attend college, and while the relationship between distance and enrollment is well established, its role in outcomes after enrollment is less understood. This study examines how distance from high school to college predicts persistence and degree completion among Kentucky public high school graduates who enrolled at in-state public institutions between 2009 and 2016. For associate degree seekers, a one-standard-deviation increase in distance (27 miles) reduces the likelihood of persistence by 3% and degree completion within four years by 14%. For bachelor's degree seekers, distance reduces the probability of persisting to the second year, but moderate distances are associated with higher four-year completion: An additional 10 miles from the average of 50 miles increases completion probability by 1.5%. These findings highlight the potential for institutions to incorporate distance as a simple, observable indicator of student risk. Combined with information on campus residency status, distance can be used in retention strategies to identify students more likely to struggle and to target interventions that improve persistence and degree completion.
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      – Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 23
        StartPage: 6
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: High School Graduates
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: College Bound Students
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Proximity
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      – SubjectFull: In State Students
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      – SubjectFull: Public Colleges
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Educational Attainment
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Academic Persistence
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Associate Degrees
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Bachelors Degrees
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Economic Factors
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Access to Education
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Geographic Location
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      – SubjectFull: Time to Degree
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      – SubjectFull: Kentucky
        Type: general
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      – TitleFull: Beyond Access and Enrollment: How Distance Relates to Persistence and Degree Completion among Students Attending In-State Public Institutions
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