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 2022         Fall 2021          Fall 2020          Fall 2019          Fall 2018	82.6% 79.6% 78.0% 82.8% 87.9%	78.7% 75.1% 73.9% 78.2% 75.9%
GPA          Fall 2022  Fall 2021  Fall 2020  Fall 2019  Fall 2018	3.15 3.13 3.07 3.14 3.21	3.06 3.05 2.95 3.03 2.97
4 Year Graduation Rates           Fall 2019           Fall 2018           Fall 2017           Fall 2016	34.4% 38.5% 38.3% 34.1%	33.1% 30.1% 28.6% 27.6%
6 Year Graduation Rates           Fall 2017           Fall 2016           Fall 2015	64.5% 60.5% 61.2%	53.4% 52.0% 51.1%

Note:  Data from Institutional Analytics and Strategic Effectiveness