Why Do Community College Students Enroll In Community Colleges?
Introduction
Higher educational attainment is critically important in an increasingly complex and knowledge-based economy. By 2020, an estimated 35 percent of job openings will require a bachelor’s degree (BA), and 30 percent will require some college or an associate’s degree (AA) (Kirp, 2014). It is not surprising that an increasing number of individuals are enrolling in the 1,000 community colleges across the nation. 38 percent of all undergraduates are enrolled in a community college, which enroll “a greater proportion of non-white, low income, first-generation college students” (Dynarski, 2015). Nevertheless, many students who enroll in community colleges are not completing their degrees and dropping out. Indeed, only 39 percent of students who enroll in a community college graduate within six years (Kolodner, 2015). The American Institute for Research notes that these dropouts amounts to an estimated total public cost of $ 4.5 billion (Kirp, 2014).
City University of New York (CUNY) community colleges are not “immune” to these trends (Zineta et al, 2013), and are coping with persistently low graduation rates. From 2005 to 2009, the average percentage of first time enrolled students in CUNY community colleges, completing an Associate’s Degree within 6 years was only 28 percent (CUNY Office of Institutional Research and Assessment (OIRA), …show more content…
example). From a macro perspective, raising graduation rates—even 10 percentage points – results in regional economic benefits to New York City and New York State’s revenues and expenditures, including increased regional economic benefit, particularly increased revenues and lower government
Higher educational attainment is critically important in an increasingly complex and knowledge-based economy. By 2020, an estimated 35 percent of job openings will require a bachelor’s degree (BA), and 30 percent will require some college or an associate’s degree (AA) (Kirp, 2014). It is not surprising that an increasing number of individuals are enrolling in the 1,000 community colleges across the nation. 38 percent of all undergraduates are enrolled in a community college, which enroll “a greater proportion of non-white, low income, first-generation college students” (Dynarski, 2015). Nevertheless, many students who enroll in community colleges are not completing their degrees and dropping out. Indeed, only 39 percent of students who enroll in a community college graduate within six years (Kolodner, 2015). The American Institute for Research notes that these dropouts amounts to an estimated total public cost of $ 4.5 billion (Kirp, 2014).
City University of New York (CUNY) community colleges are not “immune” to these trends (Zineta et al, 2013), and are coping with persistently low graduation rates. From 2005 to 2009, the average percentage of first time enrolled students in CUNY community colleges, completing an Associate’s Degree within 6 years was only 28 percent (CUNY Office of Institutional Research and Assessment (OIRA), …show more content…
example). From a macro perspective, raising graduation rates—even 10 percentage points – results in regional economic benefits to New York City and New York State’s revenues and expenditures, including increased regional economic benefit, particularly increased revenues and lower government