High-value program enrollment
The number and percentage of students enrolled in programs classified as “high value,” including certain workforce and pre-major associate degree programs. High value is determined by the average expected wages after completing a specific workforce program or the likelihood of success in attaining a bachelor’s degree after completing a liberal arts associate degree program. See Classifying Community College Programs by Post-Completion Success in Transfer and Workforce for additional guidance.
Different workforce programs result in varying levels of employment and wages, depending on available jobs related to the field of study and local labor market conditions. Further, only some liberal arts associate degree programs prepare students for transfer with junior year standing into four-year colleges/universities (and thus a higher likelihood of bachelor’s attainment). Classifying programs by likely post-completion outcomes can help college leaders understand the extent to which program completion—across all programs and within individual ones—contributes to the academic success and economic mobility of students. Furthermore, calculating the number and percentage of students, disaggregated by demographic group, in high- and low-value programs can help the college understand disparities in which subgroups of students choose and complete programs with higher and lower levels of post-graduate opportunity.
While college leaders will find value in collecting data on all students, consistently disaggregating data whenever possible can reveal outcome disparities. This information is essential for colleges developing strong reform plans to improve and close disparities in student success.
- Race/ethnicity
- Gender
- Family/Personal Income
- Age
- Parent/Dependent status
- Attendance intensity
- First-generation status
- Veteran status
Students may identify with one or many of the above identities. College leaders should consider how these different identities intersect and pay close attention to these relationships and how they may influence each student’s experience.