Learning Community Success

The Learning Communities Program is intended to promote a variety of activities commonly linked with enhanced general education outcomes:

• Stronger student academic achievement
• Higher levels of student retention
• Greater student-to-student interaction and social support networks
• Increased faculty-student interaction
• Established academic support networks
• Eased transition to college
• Higher levels of satisfaction with college experience

Specific to Minnesota State Mankato, data shows the difference in year 1 retention rates, GPAs, 4-year and 6-year graduation rates of first time, full-time undergraduate students who were in a learning community and those who were not. All indicators are more positive for the students who participated in a learning community. 

 Undergraduate First Time, Full-Time Students

	In Learning Community	Not in Learning Community
1 Year Retention Rates          Fall 2017          Fall 2018          Fall 2019          Fall 2020	87.0% 88.5% 82.6% 78.4%	71.1% 75.7% 77.3% 71.4%
GPA          Fall 2017  Fall 2018  Fall 2019  Fall 2020  Fall 2021	3.20 3.21 3.14 3.07 3.13	2.93 2.97 3.03 2.95 3.05
4 Year Graduation Rates           Fall 2014           Fall 2015           Fall 2016	25.2% 30.3% 34.1%	26.5% 25.8% 27.6%
6 Year Graduation Rates           Fall 2013           Fall 2014           Fall 2015	57.6% 55.7% 61.2%	49.5% 50.7% 51.1%

Note:  Power BI using only In or Not In Learning Community as Filter