Student Experiences and Outcomes of Early College: A Systematic Review

Early College High Schools and Early College Entrance Programs offer college material to students who are ready for it before they reach the traditional age to begin college enrollment. With the goal of addressing concerns related to the success of these programs and their impact on affective development among students, a systematic review and thematic analysis was conducted. The analysis revealed five major themes: early college entrants tend to be successful academically, both during program enrollment and after program completion, are more likely than the general population to pursue graduate degrees and do so with high academic honors, reflect on their academic and affective experiences positively, and go on to have successful and happy lives. Some issues may arise in regard to the transition to college material and the social experience of being younger than traditional college students.