ANNUAL REPORT OF THE COHORT 3 TPSID MODEL DEMONSTRATION PROJECTS - Year 5, 2024-2025

Oct 15, 2026

Annual report executive summary describing the Think College National Coordinating Center evaluation findings for Cohort 3 Transition and Postsecondary Programs for Students with Intellectual Disabilities (TPSIDs) in Year 5 (2024–2025). It details program reach across 17 states, including implemented programs by campus type, student enrollment characteristics, academic course enrollment patterns, inclusive versus specialized participation shares, disability and advising supports, credentials earned, and residential and housing options. Employment outcomes are also summarized, with most students engaging in career activities and many holding paid positions.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages4

Reading Time10 min

AccessFree to download

Executive Summary

Current Status of TPSID Characteristics

Program Characteristics

Student Characteristics

Academics

Academic Supports

Credentials

Residential Options

Employment

Think College REPORTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ANNUAL REPORT OF THE COHORT 3 TPSID MODEL DEMONSTRATION PROJECTS (YEAR 5, 2024–2025) Meg Grigal, Clare Papay, Caitlyn Bukaty, Belkis Choiseul-Praslin, Rebecca Lazo, and Matthew McClellan BACKGROUND ON HIGHER EDUCATION FOR PEOPLE WITH INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY In 2020, the Office of Postsecondary Education in the U.S. Department of Education funded 22 model demonstration projects called Transition and Postsecondary Programs for Students with Intellectual Disabilities (TPSIDs) . These colleges/ universities were charged with creating or expanding inclusive higher education programs for students with intellectual disability. The Think College National Coordinating Center (NCC) is required to conduct an evaluation of the TPSID projects each year. This is a summary of the complete findings shared in the NCC’s Annual Report of the Cohort 3 TPSID Model Demonstration Projects (Year 5, 2024–2025) . CURRENT STATUS OF TPSID CHARACTERISTICS PROGRAM CHARACTERISTICS In 2024–2025, 22 TPSID grantees implemented 43 programs at 41 college and university campuses in 17 states. Of the 43 programs, 12 were located at a 2-year college and 31 were located at a 4-year college/university. All 43 programs enrolled students in 2024-2025 (i.e., no programs were in a planning year) . Twentythree TPSID programs (53%) were approved as Comprehensive Transition and Postsecondary (CTP) programs, meaning they were able to offer eligible students access to certain forms of federal student aid. STUDENT CHARACTERISTICS On average, programs enrolled 15 students per site (N = 629 total students) . Ninety-eight percent of enrolled students had intellectual disability and/or autism. Seventy-five students were high school students receiving collegebased transition services (12% of enrolled students) . Most students (92%) were between the ages of 18 and 25. More students were male (62%) than female (38%) . ACADEMICS Students enrolled in both academically inclusive college courses (typical college courses attended by students with intellectual disability and other college students without intellectual disability) and specialized courses designed for and offered only to students with intellectual disability. In 2024–2025, students enrolled in 4,799 college or university courses, for an average of eight courses (inclusive or specialized) per student per year. Sixty-three percent of all enrollments were in academically inclusive courses. Eighty-four percent of programs enrolling students (n = 36) had at least 50% of their course enrollments in inclusive courses, and 24 programs (56%) enrolled students only in inclusive courses. Forty-eight percent of enrollments were in courses offering credits that could only be used toward a TPSID credential, 30% were for standard college/university credit, 21% of enrollments were students auditing courses, and 1% were in not-for-credit or noncredit courses. 84% 24 of programs had at least 50% of their course enrollments in inclusive courses programs had 100% of their course enrollmentsin inclusive courses ACADEMIC SUPPORTS Eighty-one percent of students received support or accommodations from the disability services office (DSO) on their campus. In 78% of programs, students had access to typical advising from the college/ university either with or without specialized advising from TPSID staff. CREDENTIALS Students were able to earn a credential at 41 of the 43 programs (95%) . Two programs, one in the first year of enrolling students and one in the second year, reported their credentials were under development. TPSID programs offered 148 credentials. At 18 programs (44% of programs where students were able to earn a credential), a single credential was available to students. At 23 TPSID programs (56%), more than one credential was available. The majority of credentials available were certificates (n = 87; 59% of credentials) . Additional credentials

FAQs

How many TPSID grantees and programs were implemented in 2024–2025?

In 2024–2025, 22 TPSID grantees implemented 43 programs across 41 college and university campuses in 17 states.

What were the main student characteristics in the TPSID programs?

On average, programs enrolled 15 students per site (N=629). Ninety-eight percent of enrolled students had intellectual disability and/or autism, and most students (92%) were ages 18 to 25.

What types of credentials did students earn through TPSID programs?

Students could earn credentials at 41 of the 43 programs (95%). Across the programs, 148 credentials were offered, with certificates being the majority (n=87; 59%), along with industry certifications, associate degrees, bachelor’s degrees, licenses, and other options such as digital badges and academic minors.

Oct 15, 2026

Uploaded by Aria Callaghan