Momentum Points
Momentum points are metrics that track students’ progress during their first year of college which research has shown to correlate with achieving educational. These leading indicators allow the college to assess the potential long-term impact of large-scale changes in systems, processes, and policies.
Momentum Points Defined
Students who are enrolling in college for the first time are tracked through these metrics:
- By the end of their first term, successful completion of 6+ or 12+ college-level credits
- By the end of their first year, successful completion of college-level math, writing, both math and writing, and earning 24+, 36+ or 45+ college-level credits
Findings
| Successful Completion 1st Term | F2020 | F2021 | F2022 | F2023 | F2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6+ college credits | 57.3% | 50.0% | 52.1% | 54.9% | 55.6% |
| 12+ college credits | 23.8% | 21.7% | 21.2% | 23.8% | 23.3% |
A higher percentage of fall 2024 first-time college students completed six or more credits compared to the prior three fall terms. The percentage of students completing 12 or more credits was just slightly lower than the previous fall.
| Successful Completion 1st Year | F2020 | F2021 | F2022 | F2023 | F2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| College Writing | 49.8% | 46.2% | 46.7% | 46.7% | 48.9% |
| College Math | 28.4% | 25.4% | 22.6% | 18.2% | 20.0% |
| College WR and MTH | 22.6% | 20.0% | 17.7% | 15.2% | 15.9% |
A higher percentage of students completed college writing by the end of their first year compared to the previous three fall terms. The percentages of students completing college math, as well as both writing and math, were higher than in the prior year but still lagged behind most earlier terms.
| Successful Completion 1st Year | F2020 | F2021 | F2022 | F2023 | F2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24+ college credits | 34.8% | 32.4% | 32.7% | 34.8% | 35.7% |
| 36+ college credits | 13.2% | 12.6% | 12.3% | 13.4% | 14.2% |
| 45+ college credits | 1.95% | 2.1% | 1.5% | 2.0% | 2.3% |
Credit accumulation by the end of students’ first academic year increased across all defined thresholds, with each exceeding levels from previous terms.
Note: College-level credits are associated with credit courses sequenced 100-level and higher
Source: Argos, YESS, Momentum Points, July 2025