For the first time in 20 years, the number of Hispanic-serving institutions (HSIs) in the U.S. has decreased. It dropped by 10 institutions, from 569 in 2019-20 to 559 in 2020-21, according to analysis by Excelencia in Education. The decrease is due, in part, to enrollment declines, institutional closings and consolidation during the pandemic, the advocacy group said. HSIs Read More »
DataPoints: The community college baccalaureate landscape
Nearly half of all states (24) have authorized at least some community colleges to confer bachelor’s degrees, according to a recent analysis by New America. The heaviest concentration of those states are in the West, with 15 of the states located west of the Mississippi River. Early adopters such as Georgia, Washington and Florida have Read More »
DataPoints: State and local funding
State funding is an important revenue stream for public institutions of higher education. However, the distribution between two-year and four-year colleges varies considerably by state. According to data recently released by the State Higher Education Executive Officers Association, less than one quarter (22.8%) of state higher education fiscal support is used to support public two-year college operating funds, Read More »
DataPoints: Students’ college costs
The average tuition and fees for community college students are far less than for students at in-state public four-year institutions, but it is estimated that their costs for transportation, supplies and other expenses are slightly higher. The average estimated full-time tuition and fees for public two-year college students for the 2021-22 academic year is $3,800, Read More »
DataPoints: How manufacturers are addressing the skills shortage
Like many other industries, U.S. manufacturers are currently facing a shortage of qualified workers. About 85% of 389 manufacturers responding to a recent survey report having unfilled positions for which they were struggling to find qualified applicants. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, manufacturers had more than 1 million open jobs in October 2021. Read More »
DataPoints: Distribution of federal student aid
In 2019-20, public two-year college students, who comprise 31% of full-time equivalent undergraduate enrollment, received 33% of Pell Grant funds, according to an analysis by the College Board. Community college students’ share of Pell grants has held in the 33% range for most of the past 34 years. Over that time span, the sector’s highpoint came in 2011-12 Read More »
DataPoints: Enrollment by race/ethnicity
In fall 2020, more than half (52%) of both Hispanic and American Indian/Alaska Native undergraduates were enrolled in public two-year colleges, according to a College Board analysis of federal data. Between 35% and 44% of members from other racial/ethnic groups attended these colleges. Hispanic students also comprised more than one-quarter (28%) of students at public two-year colleges, Read More »
DataPoints: Apprenticeship goals
A national initiative led by the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) to increase the number of apprentices and services throughout the U.S. is quickly approaching its goal to serve 16,000 registered apprentices by February 28, 2022. Expanding Community College Apprenticeships (ECCA), which is funded by the U.S. Department of Labor, has served 15,647 participants from its start Read More »
DataPoints: Recognizing student veterans’ challenges
Student veterans comprise about 5% of community college students, and many of them face challenges in attending college, according to federal data. For example, 27% of student veterans who attend a community college report having a disability, compared to 20% of students who are not veterans. More specifically, student veterans have higher rates of serious Read More »
DataPoints: Where adults go for training
Nearly half (48%) of American workers between ages 24 and 64 have used community colleges at some point in their lives, according to a recent report from the Community College Research Center (CCRC) at Columbia University. Of those who did tap community colleges, about one-quarter (26%) did so as adults, well after graduating from high Read More »