Between 2022 and 2025, 10 community colleges moved more than 20,000 additional students into programs that lead to living-wage jobs or bachelor’s degree pathways, according to a new report from the Aspen Institute College Excellence Program and the Community College Research Center.
The findings come as community colleges face growing pressure to demonstrate the value of their credentials. Although more community college students are earning credentials than ever, more than one-third of those credentials are unlikely to lead directly to living-wage jobs or bachelor’s degrees that open doors to them.
To help more students enroll in programs with stronger postgraduation outcomes, Aspen and CCRC launched the Unlocking Opportunity network in 2023. The initiative aims to increase the number of students entering and completing high-value programs while helping colleges improve programs with weaker postcompletion outcomes.
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