Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

Stepping Stones

  • By Deborah P. Moore
  • 05/01/16

I just read a surprising article published in U.S. News & World Report headlined, “Graduates of 4-Year Universities Flock to Community Colleges for Job Skills. As many as 1 in 5 community college students already have bachelor’s degrees.” According to the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC), one out of every 14 people who attend community has already earned a bachelor’s degree, and in some colleges the number is one out of five.

Community colleges were always thought of as a stepping stone, preparing students for transfer to four-year institutions — not the other way around. They had open-access admissions policies, comprehensive educational programs, were community-based and cost-effective. In the latest College Board report average published tuition and fee prices in 2015-16 for in-district students at public two-year institutions averaged $3,430, compared to $9,410 for in-state students at public four-year institutions.

While lower tuition and costs may be attracting new students to community colleges, it is workforce development and skills training that are attracting students already holding bachelor’s degrees. While unemployment soared during the Great Recession, reaching 9.9 percent in March of 2010, the national unemployment rate has declined to 5.0 percent in March of 2016. Many of those who were unemployed are still under-employed. In 2016 wages are predicted to increase 2.5 percent when adjusted for inflation, but after years of salary cuts and no cost-of-living increases employees are leaving their current jobs and looking for greener pastures.

Many former students are taking courses at their local community college in an effort to make themselves more marketable. Others, especially in technology-related professions, are returning to keep their certifications current or upgrade their skills, and it is paying off.

In February 2014 the AACC and Economic Modeling Specialists International (EMSI) released a report, “Where Value Meets Values: The Economic Impact of Community Colleges.” The report shows that community colleges are a boon to the American economy at large as well as to individual students. For every one dollar a student spends on his or her community college education, he or she sees an ROI of $3.80. If you ask me, that is a pretty good investment!

This article originally appeared in the issue of .

Featured

  • Minnesota District Converts Middle School into Community Hub

    White Bear Lake Area Schools in White Bear Lake, Minn., recently announced the end of a major renovation project that converted a former middle school into a new centralized district and community hub, according to a news release.

  • Longwood University Hits Construction Milestone on New Music Education Facility

    Longwood University in Farmville, Va., recently celebrated the topping out of its new music education and performance facility, according to a news release. The university partnered with development and construction firm Skanska on the 63,800-square-foot facility, which began construction in August 2025 and has an estimated completion date of fall 2028.

  • Nashville Elementary School Receives LEED Gold Certification

    Goodlettsville Elementary School, part of Metro Nashville Public Schools in Nashville, Tenn., recently achieved LEED Gold Certification from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), according to a news release. The 81,750-square-foot school opened in 2023 and was designed by Goodwyn Mills Cawood (GMC).

  • Virginia Tech Tops Out New College of Engineering Building

    Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Va., recently celebrated the topping out of Mitchell Hall, which will soon stand as the largest College of Engineering building on campus, according to a news release. The university partnered with Skanska on the 285,500-square-foot facility, which has an expected completion date of winter 2028.