Community College News

The Catch-22 of Community College Graduation Rates

President Obama has shined a significant spotlight on America’s college graduation rates throughout his administration, and community colleges are feeling the pressure.

• According to the Hechinger Report, fewer than one out of five students at community colleges obtain their desired degree in three years or less.
• A recent study published by the American Institutes for Research (AIR) paints a similarly grim picture by indicating that high college dropout rates cost both state and federal governments billions of dollars yearly.
• However, do these numbers accurately depict what is happening in community colleges and four-year institutions nationwide?
• This article will explore the many reasons for high dropout rates, including flaws in how such data is collected.

What the Numbers Show

As shown in the graph above, National Center for Education Statistics data shows that only 13 percent of community college students graduate in two years.

• Within three years, approximately 22 percent of students graduate; within four years, the rate stands at 28 percent.
• Further data from AIR shows that only about 60% of college students graduate from four-year colleges and universities within six years.
• AIR vice president Mark Schneider claims that state and federal governments spend more than $9 billion annually on these students.
• Yet, all that funding fails to produce a college graduate who could bring those years of education to the country's workforce.
• While

For-profit colleges seem to face an uphill battle these days, both on campus and on Capitol Hill. Enrollment, which skyrocketed during the heat of the recession, is beginning to plummet. Some surveys are showing students from for-profit colleges unhappy with the education they received vs. the money they paid. Some for-profit colleges are even facing class-action suits for misleading advertising or an inability to deliver on their promises.

Perhaps it should be no surprise that these institutions are turning on their community college counterparts, releasing a recent survey conducted by Norton/Norris Inc. that found similar complaints with community colleges. The results of this survey were published on Business Wire and report that community colleges are also purportedly dealing in unsavory recruitment practices and providing low quality in terms of education. The results were released just prior to the summit on community colleges hosted by the White House earlier this month.

This video looks at the comparison of for-profit versus community colleges.

What the Numbers Show

The Norton/Norris survey found a lack of transparency in reporting important information like graduation rates, employment rates, and pass rates on certification examinations. The survey also found:

• Community colleges are not living up to their expectations in terms of course availability, the relevance of coursework, and schedule flexibility.
• The colleges are not providing high-quality education in their academic offerings.
• Many students leave community colleges due to

Community colleges are being hailed as the saviors of the future of America's economic and academic stronghold. However, these institutions still fight against a slew of challenges, including drop-out rates of nearly 50% and an overall perception that a community college education is less valuable than a degree from a four-year university. President Obama, along with Dr. Jill Biden, have attempted to at least address some of those challenges in the first-ever community college summit held at the White House this month.

Purpose of the Summit

This community college summit was scheduled to meet a very specific purpose, according to information found at WhiteHouse.gov. President Obama organized the gathering to bring experts together to discuss the role community colleges will play in training a competent workforce for the future. Community colleges are also imperative to help President Obama successfully reach his lofty goal of leading the world with the highest proportion of college graduates by 2020.

This website states that community colleges provide the largest portion of higher education in this country, with an enrollment of more than eight million students during the last academic year. Statistics support the fact that these institutions are in a prime position to raise the bar on workforce training in this country overall.

Dr. Jill Biden, who has taught in community colleges for 17 years, understands this concept better than anyone. That is exactly why President Obama appointed Dr. Biden to oversee the summit to determine

With college graduation rates trailing today, more emphasis is being placed on community colleges to ensure our country’s future economic stability. A recent AP poll suggests that most Americans are realizing the many benefits of a community college education, bolstering the image of these institutions as a viable alternative to four-year universities today. This poll comes when the White House has launched the first-ever summit on community colleges.

What the Numbers Show

According to a report on Google News, the Associated Press and Stanford University conducted a poll to determine Americans' attitudes toward community college. The poll found that the vast majority of Americans (71%) believe it is advantageous for some students to attend a community college rather than a four-year institution. Nearly the same number polled agreed that an education received from a community college is "excellent" or "good."

The poll also asked whether community colleges adequately prepare students for a professional job after graduation. Of the individuals polled, 62% said community colleges adequately prepare students for the workforce, while 68% said that four-year universities succeed in this goal. These numbers indicate that most Americans today are pleased with the education received at a two-year college, improving the image of community colleges in the world of higher education overall.

The only groups that did not find community colleges on par with other institutions were Blacks and Hispanics. According to the poll, 43% of minorities believed it was better to get into

One of the biggest obstacles community colleges face today is the ability to retain students until they graduate or transfer to another institution. According to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), just one in five public community college students graduate with their certificate or associate’s degree within three years. Students pursuing a two-year degree have a much lower chance of achieving their educational goals than those who begin their academic careers at a four-year university, as the graduation for students at four-year institutions is nearly 60 percent.

However, a college degree is imperative today for individuals who want to gain employment that offers sufficient income to support themselves and their families. Community colleges are a perfect place to get an education because of the convenience and affordability many two-year institutions provide. To help students reach their goals, colleges are getting creative in their methods of student retention.

President Obama has set a high bar for colleges across the country: to have the highest college graduation rates in the world by the year 2020. However, this is a very tall task. According to a report by 24/7 Wall St., from 2000-2011, the college graduation growth rate in the United States was a paltry 1.4 percent – one of the lowest rates of any developed country. While the U.S. has climbed the list of most educated countries – moving up to fifth place from