In a December 8th story in the Connecticut Mirror, Jacqueline Rabe reports on a new University of Connecticut economic study showing community colleges provide a good return on investment for students despite flat state assistance for the two-year schools since 2008.
Earning an associates degree from a community college is not only significantly cheaper than earning a bachelor’s degree from a four-year college, but the two-year degree provides almost the same return on investment, University of Connecticut economist say.
Earning an associates degree from a community college is not only significantly cheaper than earning a bachelor’s degree from a four-year college, but the two-year degree provides almost the same return on investment, University of Connecticut economist say.
“It is very clear that for a very limited investment, community colleges return pretty high results,” said Steven P. Lanza, editor of UConn’s latest quarterly economic review. “Surprisingly, the returns from a community college education aren’t far off the mark of a four-year degree.”
Earning a degree from a community college increase lifetime earnings by 8.3 percent, according to Lanza’s report in The Connecticut Economy. A four-year degree from the University of Connecticut increases earnings by 9.4 percent. Both estimate takes into account the cost of tuition and the loss of potential income while in school.
Sen. Gary D. LeBeau, D-East Hartford and co-chairman of the legislature’s Commerce Committee, says the report validates that funding for community colleges needs to be a priority.
“It would seem like a slam dunk for Connecticut policymakers,” he said.
But the report warns that as the state’s economy soured in recent years, leading to skyrocketingenrollment at community colleges, state subsidies have not been sufficient.
The link to full story:
@ Capital Community College 