Sense of Community Linked to College Success, Study Finds

What the researchers examined

The study drew on the Beginning Postsecondary Students Longitudinal Study, which followed first-time, first-year US undergraduates who enrolled in 2011–2012. Researchers tracked their outcomes using transcript data collected 6 years later (N = 21,700).

During the spring of their first year (and again in their third year), students rated their sense of belonging by responding to one statement: "I feel that I am a part of [SCHOOL]." Responses ranged from 1 (strongly disagree) to 5 (strongly agree).

The researchers then analyzed whether first-year belonging predicted whether students earned any postsecondary credential (degree or certificate) by Year 4 (2015) and by Year 6 (2017). They adjusted for other factors, including grades and demographics.

Source: Data are from the Beginning Postsecondary Students Study 12/17 (BPS:12/17

Two-year and four-year starters showed different patterns

For students who started at a 4-year college, first-year belonging was a predictor of credential attainment at both Year 4 and Year 6.

The analysis also found that changes in belonging over time related to attainment, even when the model accounted for first-year belonging.

For students who started at a two-year college, the pattern was lower. First-year belonging predicted attainment by Year 4; however, the association in Year 6 fell short of conventional statistical significance (p = 0.07).

Differences in student groups

The positive association held across most subgroups. The authors reported only a few statistically significant differences among 4-year starters:

• The link between belonging and Year 4 attainment was stronger for continuing-generation students than for first-generation students.
• The link between belonging and Year 6 attainment was weaker for Asian students than for non-Asian students.

What's next?

The results suggest a straightforward takeaway: students who feel included and connected early in college are more likely to earn a credential later, even after accounting for other factors in the dataset.

For international students, this finding raises practical questions. Building a sense of belonging can be harder when you're navigating a new country, culture, and academic system all at once. Seeking out international student organizations, connecting with faculty, or finding peers with shared experiences may help bridge that gap.

That said, the paper frames these findings as descriptive rather than causal. The authors also highlight measurement limitations, as the study employed only a single item to assess belonging.