I think we’re well past the point where almost everyone believed that college was a “great investment.” There’s no hiding the fact that lots of college grads learn little and then earn little.
But what about community college? Attending is low in cost and students gain important skills. Well, it is low in cost but that doesn’t ensure that the time and money are well spent. In today’s Martin Center article, Matthew Wilson examines a new study on community-college programs, a study finding that they are very mixed in their results.
That study was done by the indefatigable Preston Cooper, who found that some community-college programs, such as nursing, have a high return on investment. Others, however, have a low or even negative return, such as cosmetology.
Writes Wilson:
Clearly, not all community college degree programs are created equal. Some, particularly in highly technical and specialized fields, provide fantastic opportunities for students from less privileged backgrounds to pursue high-paying careers. Others, such as programs in more academically-oriented subjects or those with dangerously low completion rates, can be highly risky investments.
Caveat emptor.