Community colleges are often called the “engines of social and economic mobility.” As low-cost and open access institutions, they serve as a gateway to higher education for students who otherwise may be excluded, particularly those in historically underserved and underrepresented populations.
For students to fully benefit from the economic mobility that a postsecondary certificate or degree can offer, however, they must not only complete their goals but also find success in the labor market.
According to the University of Texas at Austin’s 2023 Community College Survey of Student Engagement, many community college students believe their schools are not equipping them with the knowledge to succeed after they graduate.
Students with 30 or more credit hours were more likely to report that their coursework had provide them with information about the skills needed for their chosen career path than were students who had earned fewer than 30 credit hours.
Internships were also highly valued. According to the report, students who engaged in internships or similar experiences were much more likely to report that their coursework provided them with information about the skills they would need in their chosen career path.
Survey results involved 83,189 community college students in 199 colleges.