Improving the Financial Stability of Community College Students

Community colleges are responsible for educating nearly half of the nation's undergraduates and are vital for providing affordable post-secondary education, labor force training and skills enhancement. Despite enrollment rates of community college students being at an all-time high, over the last 30 years graduation rates are only 20%, compared to 50% for 4-year college students. By 2018, there will be a need for an estimated 22 million new college graduates, with six in 10 jobs requiring a post-secondary degree. With completion rates where they are now, however, there will be a shortfall of 3 million college graduates.