Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability
Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability

Excess Hours at Community Colleges Warrant Attention by the Department of Education and the Legislature

Report 05-30, April 2005

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Report Summary

  • Approximately 97% of community college students in a cohort of 2001-02 graduates accumulated at least one excess hour and 61% accumulated hours that exceeded 120% of degree requirements. Excess hours occur when students enroll in classes that they either do not successfully complete or do not need to meet graduation requirements. The excess hours students in our cohort took cost the state about $30 million. However, since our cohort represented only 39% of those graduating in 2001‑02, the full cost of the excess hours taken by all students is likely to be much higher.
  • The main causes of excess hours at the community college level are student characteristics and inadequate academic advising. In addition, some students take community college courses that will satisfy upper division requirements, which causes excess hours to be taken at the community college level.

Related Reports
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    Report 10-43 May 2010
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    Report 09-22 March 2009
  3. Inconsistent Implementation of Common Prerequisites Creates Barriers to Effective 2+2 Articulation
    Report 08-11 March 2008
  4. State Policies for Excess Hours Remain Unchanged; Steps Taken to Strengthen Academic Advising
    Report 07-37 September 2007
Copies of this report in print or alternate accessible format may be obtained by email OPPAGA@oppaga.fl.gov, telephone (850) 488-0021, or mail 111 W. Madison St., Room 312 Tallahassee, FL 32399-1475.
Copies of this report in print or alternate accessible format may be obtained by email OPPAGA@oppaga.fl.gov, telephone (850) 488-0021, or mail 111 W. Madison St., Room 312 Tallahassee, FL 32399-1475.
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