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, […]
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. […]
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 […]
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, […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
DataPoints: Education, income and poverty
From 2019 to 2020, real median incomes among U.S. householders ages 25 and older dropped for all educational attainment groups, according to a recent report from the U.S. Census Bureau, whose collected information coincided with the Covid pandemic. Individuals with less education (who also earned the least) were hit particularly hard. Those with no high […]
DataPoints: More education, more earnings, but….
In general, the higher the degree earned, the higher the earnings. For example, an associate degree increases lifetime earnings over a high school diploma by 25%, according to a new report from the Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce. Two-year degree holders earn a median of $2 million during their lifetimes, averaging $50,000 […]
DataPoints: Significantly more parent students attend community college
DataPoints: Significantly more parent students attend community college Young college students with children disproportionately attend community colleges, according to a new analysis of federal data by Child Trends, a research organization focused on improving the lives of children and youths. Almost half (47%) of postsecondary students age 18 to 24 with children attend community college, roughly three times […]