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While many recent graduates may struggle to find sustainable work amidst a declining economy, community college students are discovering new “recession-proof” career paths that are both reliable and lucrative, despite economic hardships.

As Emily Gersema of The Arizona Republic argues, community colleges are becoming increasingly aware of job market demands since “employers come to them to set up programs tailored to their staffing needs.” Careers in various industries are proving to be strong and sustainable options for community college students after graduation.

Health Care Careers

According to research supported by Kiplinger, a renounced financial and economic forecasting company, healthcare is one the top options for students looking for a sustainable educational path or for recent graduates seeking employment: “Many of the nation's fastest-growing careers are in the healthcare industry, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.”

As the population age continues to rise, careers in health care should remain reliable and strong, as the demand is projected for years to come. Specific healthcare jobs for community college students include careers in the field of nursing, physical therapy, nursing home aid, physician assistant, and many more.

And in specifically analyzing the rising demands, Gersema further explains, “Healthcare needs…continue to rise. Clinics and dental offices are tapping programs such as the dental-hygienist program at Mesa Community College for workers.” Paired with this, jobs are also on the rise for individuals who are fluent in global languages[C1], particularly Spanish. “Demand is increasing for healthcare workers who speak Spanish

As the costs of all school programs are rising, community colleges are offering more affordable education plans that prepare young professionals for some of the top paying careers. As CNN comments on the top paying jobs, “though a college degree is not a requirement for these positions, all require moderate to extensive on-the-job training or apprenticeship. In addition, dental hygienists, radiation therapists, nuclear medicine technologists, and commercial pilots require an associate degree at a vocational or technical school.”

Ultimately, as some of the top-paying careers only require a two- year degree, certification, or select courses, community colleges are offering financially affordable and rewarding pathways for future success.

Moving Towards a New Career Frontier

The correspondence between higher education and higher income is now becoming history; according to CNN, “Though it was once conventional wisdom that you needed to have a four-year college degree to be successful, many employment experts believe that maxim has become myth. While a college education increases a worker's chances of earning more money, it's certainly not the only reliable path to well-paid and rewarding work.”

While most lucrative jobs require post-high school training, most of the top-paying careers do not require a four-year degree – and thus, community colleges really stand out against 4 year universities. In fact, “there are […] (approximately) 50 million jobs out there that don't require a bachelor's degree and pay upwards of $40,000 a year.”

According to the United States Bureau of Labor and Statistics, eight of

Many students who are considering attending community college want to know what their career opportunities are after graduating. If you are contemplating community college, then you are in for good news!

The professional prospects for a community college grad are very promising. According to the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC), who analyzed data presented by the US Department of Education and College Board, the average community college graduate earns significant more than a high school graduate. When it comes to the average expected lifetime earnings, those with an associate’s degree earn $1.6 million, which is significant more than the $.4 million a high school graduate will earn. From this perspective alone, graduating from community college will earn your bank account an extra $1.2 million in your lifetime!

Popular community college majors

Although the majors and careers found in community college are quite diverse, ranging from art to zoology, there are several majors that are highly popular, according to the AACC. The five most popular majors in community college are:

• Computer technologies – 1,017 programs throughout community colleges
• Registered nursing – 755 programs offered in community colleges
• Law enforcement – 751 programs offered nationally through community colleges
• Licensed practical nursing – 528 programs throughout community colleges
• Radiology – 269 programs offered through community colleges

The working applications of community college

The AACC estimates that there are 11 million students enrolled in community college; with the sheer numbers of the community college student population, employers have taken note of the high caliber of