Credit Accumulation and Degree Completion: Evidence from Adult Learners

Session Abstract: This poster session, focused on online adult learners, showcases a study that examines whether credit accumulation is associated with degree completion among part-time adult learners at an online campus, while also exploring disparities across subpopulations and their intersectionality. Using propensity score methods to control for key covariates such as gender, race/ethnicity, first-generation status, and prior learning assessment credits, the study minimizes selection bias and strengthens causal inference. Findings will provide evidence-based insights for higher education stakeholders, policymakers, and administrators. By focusing on this often-overlooked population, the study expands the knowledge base on nontraditional and online learners and contributes to efforts aimed at promoting equity and improving degree completion outcomes.

Keywords: Credit accumulation, degree completion, adult learners, online settings, propensity score methods.