Differences in Characteristics of Postsecondary Technical Students in Pennsylvania Community Colleges and Two-Year Proprietary Institutions

The purpose of this study was to determine the differences among the personal, situational, and outcome characteristics of students in15 Pennsylvania community colleges and 16 two-year proprietary institutions, and the nature of differences in gender at both types of institutions. The study, under the auspices of the Pennsylvania Department of Education-Bureau of Vocational Technical education, was divided into three phases: Planning and Organization, Implementation, and Follow-up. This article describes results of the second phase, which involved surveying a large sample of 3,100 students currently enrolled in postsecondary programs in Pennsylvania. Although this study is oriented to community colleges and two-year proprietary institutions in Pennsylvania, other states may find parts of the research useful if they are studying the nature and performance of postsecondary technical students. The results may provokea debate for more diversity in student enrollment in community colleges technical fields of study.