Are Graduate Degrees in Nursing Worth It?

First Responders and Emergency Services: Specialized Roles and Training

Disclaimer: I am writing this article against the backdrop of the catastrophic Los Angeles fires. The Pacific Palisades Fire and the Eaton Fire started on January 7, 2025. The scenes of destruction are appalling. If I seem emotional sometimes, it's because I ran with the Warren Volunteer Fire Department in the 80s when I lived in Litchfield County, Connecticut. I know firsthand how devoted these first responders, firefighters, emergency responders, and all the other personnel fighting the fires are to their calling. These folks work tirelessly in hazardous conditions. ~Rob Kennedy

The Premise

In an era marked by escalating environmental disasters and security threats, the field of emergency services (EMS) has never been more critical. Yet, the EMS field is facing a critical workforce shortage. The American Ambulance Association reports a 20-30% annual turnover rate for EMTs and paramedics, meaning agencies need to replace their entire staff approximately every four years. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 7% growth rate for paramedic jobs from 2018 to 2028, with about 18,700 new jobs expected over the next decade.

As I will show you, there's a wide range of positions available in the field. Best of all, they suit dedicated men and women of all ages. For example, when I ran with the Warren VFD, I started by learning how to drive the ambulance.

10 Essential Money Management Tips for Community College Students

It’s common knowledge that community college is more affordable than tuition at a private university, but that may not be universally true. The average cost of tuition at community college is $3,660 per year, a cost that is twice as high as it was 30 years ago. Even if community college is less costly than a traditional four-year college, it isn’t cheap, and there are other costs to consider.

In this article, we’ll determine whether community college is really the most affordable option and what costs other than tuition students should plan for. You’ll also receive some helpful tips for managing your money while attending community college.

The True Cost of a College Degree

Over the past few decades, a college degree has changed from a luxury that only the privileged were able to obtain into a necessity if you want to get anything more than a minimum wage-paying job. A strong work ethic is no longer enough to land a job or to keep it, and many fields have begun to require an associate’s or bachelor’s degree for entry-level positions.

Statistics show that college graduates earn 66% more than those with only a high school diploma and, throughout a lifetime, earn about $1 billion more. It is essential to consider, however, at what cost this benefit comes. A college degree has never been more necessary if you want to succeed in the workforce, but it has

Community college is often described as a low-cost alternative to traditional 4-year universities. Students have the opportunity to complete general education requirements or prerequisites at a lower cost, then transfer to the university or college of their choice. Many students also choose to stay and complete their degrees at community colleges.

Graduation is the ultimate goal of pursuing higher education after high school. Whether you attend community college or a traditional university or college, the end goal is to obtain your degree. Unfortunately, that’s not always what happens. Many community college students never end up transferring to another school and a significant number never finish their degrees at all.

In this article, we’ll explore some of the most common issues community college students have with their schools. We’ll talk about the issues that keep students from graduating and review some of the ways community colleges can improve. You’ll also receive some advice for choosing the right school for you to ensure that you graduate on time.

This video discusses the challenges facing community colleges.

What Keeps Community College Students from Graduating?

College is not supposed to be easy, but a newly released survey reveals that there are challenges outside of difficult classwork that prevent students from graduating. Researchers at North Carolina State University created the Revealing Institutional Strengths and Challenges survey which was completed by nearly 6,000 two-year college students from 10

Though some still think that community colleges are somehow less legitimate than traditional colleges and universities, the fact remains that community colleges provide opportunities for students who might not otherwise find the right fit. With reduced tuition costs and flexible class schedules, community college is ideally suited to non-traditional students, including single parents, slightly older adults, and students for whom English is a second language.

Though community colleges fill an essential niche in the American hierarchy of education, statistics show that enrollment numbers are falling at an alarming rate. Between 2016 and 2017 alone, enrollment dropped by nearly 2% nationwide. Furthermore, a survey of college and university admissions directors completed by Inside Higher Ed revealed that 84% of community colleges have declined enrollment over the past two years.

Community colleges are forced to adapt to declining enrollments and new political challenges. Read on to learn how community colleges are changing strategies to boost enrollment.

Why Is Enrollment in Decline?

In 2018, the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center surveyed community college enrollment to evaluate recent declines. The survey revealed a decline of 1.8%, or 275,000 students, compared to the previous spring. This marks the seventh straight year that community college enrollment has declined in the United States.

According to the survey, enrollment was down in 34 states. Six of the ten largest states on that list were located in the Northeast or Midwestern United States. After looking at these declining student populations, the center