Basics

For many prospective students, one statistic stands out above all others when researching colleges: job placement rates. A program that advertises a 90% or 95% placement rate sounds like a safe investment, especially if your goal is to enter the workforce as quickly as possible.

But those numbers don't always tell the full story. Colleges may calculate placement rates differently, measure success over different time periods, or define "employment" in ways that aren't immediately obvious. Before enrolling, it's worth taking a closer look at what these claims actually mean and whether they reflect the outcomes you're hoping to achieve.

As Community College Review explains in its guide to Community College Success Rates 2026: Outcomes & Trends, student outcomes should always be evaluated using multiple measures rather than a single statistic.

Understand What "Job Placement" Really Means

One of the biggest misconceptions is that all colleges measure job placement the same way. In reality, there is no universal reporting standard.

Some colleges count only graduates who find employment directly related to their field of study. Others include any type of paid employment, even if the position has little connection to the student's program. In some cases, graduates who continue their education instead of entering the workforce are excluded entirely from the calculation.

Before comparing colleges, ask exactly how placement rates are determined. Understanding the methodology behind the statistic is often more valuable than the percentage itself.

Ask Whether Graduates Work in Their Chosen Field

Finding a job

Introduction

In 2025, the narrative around higher education is evolving. While four-year degrees remain valuable, an increasing number of high-earning jobs are available to graduates of two-year programs. For students, parents and educators exploring options, this article examines high-paying jobs you can get with a community college degree, focusing on current trends, salary data and pathways to success.

A community college degree (typically an associate of arts or associate of science) can open the door to well-paid roles in healthcare, technology, technical trades and more. According to recent data, many two-year programs yield median salaries in excess of $70,000 for specific occupations.

This article offers a practical breakdown: we’ll explain how associate degrees work, highlight specific high-paying career paths, compare earnings and growth potential, and provide tips for making the most of a community college credential.

Understanding the Community College Degree Advantage

What is a community college degree?

A community college degree usually refers to an associate degree (AA, AS or AAS) awarded by a community or junior college after roughly two years of full-time study. These programs are designed to deliver job-ready skills or to transfer into a four-year institution.

Why choose this route?

• Shorter time to completion: Most programs take about two years, allowing earlier entry into the workforce.

• Lower cost: Community colleges typically cost less than

Before you apply to college you need to think about what kind of classes interest you so you know which major to focus on. With so many options, out there, however, it can be difficult to make a choice. While it is important to consider your interests and your skills, you also need to be practical – what career will earn you enough money to live the life you want?

What are the Highest Paying Careers?

When you start thinking about attending college, whether you choose a community college or a traditional university, you should have some idea of what kind of career you are interested in. What makes this so challenging is the fact that there are a nearly limitless array of options. With tuition costs ever-increasing, leaving graduates with more debt than ever, it is worth doing a little research to see if the career path you are on will pay enough for you to pay back your loan debt while also covering your cost of living. If you want to make sure that you will have financial security, consider going into one of the highest paying careers which include the following:

• Engineering – According to Bankrate.com, seven out of the top ten highest-paying majors are within various engineering fields. Not only are engineering jobs some of the highest paying jobs out there, but engineers can increase their rate of pay by obtaining additional certifications and licenses such as a Professional Engineering (PE) license. The median

Students entering the California Community College system will now have another tool to help them choose a degree program and motivate them to complete that program. Through a new online tool, California students will be able to see how much they can earn with the various degrees offered through their school. The tool was recently unveiled by the California Community College Chancellor’s Office.

Introducing Salary Surfer

The new website, dubbed Salary Surfer, allows students to track a person’s potential salary in California for five years after earning a two-year degree. The site uses data from graduates across the state, to compile significant information that can help students choose the best degree program for them. The Huffington Post reports that Salary Surfer shows the median annual incomes for 179 of the most popular community college programs in the state.

The website does not include data on students that transfer to four-year institutions. It does not have information on federal employees or self-employed graduates. Graduates that move out of state are also not included in the salary averages listed at Salary Surfer.

EdSource reports that Salary Surfer is the first online database of its kind in the state. The website tracks average annual salaries for the various programs two years after graduation, and again five years after graduation. Students can see how much they might expect to make in their discipline and compare that to what they were making prior to graduation.