RELEASE DATE: May 16, 2008
CONTACT: Public Affairs, (919) 807-6962
North Carolina Community College System excels in national
study of community college utilization, access and affordability
MEDIA ALERT:
To read the study, see the Rockefeller Institute website at
www.rockinst.org
According to a national study released May 15, 2008, North
Carolina’s 58 community colleges are “doing it right” in providing
workforce education and training to a growing number of adults at an
affordable price.
The Nelson A. Rockefeller Institute of Government, part of the State
University of New York, has released an education policy brief
entitled “The States and Their Community Colleges” focused on how
well states take advantage of the opportunities offered by community
colleges.
North Carolina is one of only four states ranked above the national
rate in all five criteria ranking states by community college
utilization. The others are Iowa, Mississippi and New Mexico. The
criteria and North Carolina’s rankings, as reported by the
Institute, are:
• Share of all higher education enrollments in the state (9th at
32.6%)
• Share of a state’s total population 18 and over enrolled full or
part-time in community college (10th at 3.06%)
• Share of a state’s total population 18 and over represented by
full-time equivalent registration in community colleges (13th at
2.3%)
• Five-year growth rate in community colleges (13th at 19.8%) and
• Amount by which community college growth outpaces (or lags) growth
rate in public four-year colleges and universities (30th at +2.2%).
The report ranks North Carolina’s annual community college tuition
and fees of about $1300 for the year measured (2006-2007) as 48th
out of 50 states.
According to the report, “states with strong community college
systems offer a cost-effective way to help more of their students
eventually earn four-year degrees; will enable more of their
citizens to way to help more of their citizens eventually earn
four-year degrees; will enable more of their citizens to move up
from low-wage jobs and find high-skill, well-paid careers; will
bolster economic development by meeting employer needs for qualified
workers; and will help high school graduates with weak skills catch
up.”
The North Carolina Community College System enrolls more than
800,000 students in 58 comprehensive community colleges.
Internationally recognized for the scope and quality of its
programs, the system is North Carolina's primary provider of
workforce preparation and adult education.
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