Growth of Job-Focused Community College Programs Outpaces Dismal Transfer Rates

A fresh recent study has unveiled a surge in community college enrollment nationwide, with a declining number of students transferring to four-year institutions due to their increasing focus on immediate employability.

According to the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center, community colleges spearheaded the overall growth in undergraduate enrollment in the fall of 2023, recording a 2.6 percent increase, equivalent to 118,000 students, compared to the preceding year.

The rise in community college enrollments was predominantly driven by students pursuing vocational programs, indicating a shift in interest away from traditional four-year degrees.

“There are significant shortages in professions requiring a bachelor’s degree,” stated Josh Wyner, the founding figure and executive director of the Aspen Institute College Excellence Program, highlighting lucrative careers in fields like nursing, teaching, and software engineering with annual salaries exceeding $50,000.

Wyner expressed concern over students opting for vocational degrees instead of the traditional liberal arts programs leading to bachelor’s degrees, as the former may not offer the long-term financial benefits associated with a four-year education.

Increased Enrollment in Career-Oriented Programs

In the fall of 2023, community colleges focusing on vocational programs saw a 16 percent surge compared to the previous year’s 3 percent growth, surpassing their pre-pandemic enrollment by almost 30,000 students.

On the other hand, colleges emphasizing transfers experienced a mere 0.2 percent growth in the fall of 2023, contrasting with a 1.1 percent decline from the prior year, leading to a continual decrease in pre-pandemic enrollment by over 500,000 students.

“Community colleges are witnessing a decline in students progressing towards transfer pathways, which is a loss we cannot afford,” emphasized John Fink, a senior research associate at the Community College Research Center.

This trend reflects the current plight of community colleges, which, despite the enrollment upswing, fall short of pre-pandemic figures, as mentioned by Fink.

As revealed by the report, the recent growth in community college enrollments brings the total count to approximately 4.5 million students.

Popular programs such as computer science, business, and health witnessed growth rates of 9.1, 3.5, and 2.4 percent, respectively.

However, the pre-pandemic enrollment numbers surpassed 5.2 million, leaving community colleges with a net loss of nearly 700,000 students.

“The growth in community colleges is a positive development, but there is still a significant distance to cover to return to previous levels,” remarked Jeremy Cohen, a research associate at the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center.

Despite an increasing number of companies forgoing the requirement of a four-year degree from job applicants, their hiring patterns have not changed, according to Wyner.

“A majority of well-paying jobs in the country are occupied by individuals with a bachelor’s degree or higher,” highlighted Wyner, stressing the crucial alignment between community college programs and bachelor’s degree attainment to address future job vacancies.

Wyner underlined the pivotal role of “word-of-mouth” experiences from current students in community college-goers’ decision-making process regarding the pursuit of a four-year degree.

“If students leave [a four-year] college without a degree or with one that offers no tangible benefits, their negative feedback within their communities will deter others,” stated Wyner.

“Therefore, the educational system needs to better serve these students to avoid further disappointments,” he concluded.

Decline in Transfer Students Impact Four-Year Colleges

This trend directly affects four-year institutions that rely on transfer students for enrollment, as noted by Fink.

“While this appears to predominantly concern community colleges, its repercussions will extend to many four-year institutions in the coming years,” Fink pointed out.

Wyner suggested that leaders in four-year institutions must actively contribute to reverse the declining trend in community college enrollments.

“Rather than bemoaning the decrease in community college enrollments, four-year schools need to proactively address the issue,” recommended Wyner, citing initiatives like the Northern Virginia Community College’s ADVANCE Program that facilitates seamless transfer and guaranteed admission at George Mason University.

He highlighted the successful transfer of over 4,000 students annually through this program, with a graduation rate exceeding 70 percent — surpassing the national undergraduate average of 62.2 percent.

“By establishing robust pathways, community colleges can attract students back into their programs,” emphasized Wyner.