Median earnings
The median earnings of employed graduates one year, five years, and 10 years after completing a credential at the community college.
Note: “Earnings" describes money generated from a salary or job.
Research shows that, nationally, less than half of graduates with a community college associate degree or certificate (and not a bachelor’s degree) earn more than $35,000 a year within two years of graduation. 7 Colleges can use this metric to assess whether graduates receive an earnings premium after completing workforce programs and whether earnings are adequate to support an individual or family. This metric should be used in conjunction with transfer metrics to assess differences between earnings one year and five years after completion (by which time bachelor’s degrees should be attained and earnings premiums emerge). A good source of earnings data (available in most states) is to match graduates with earnings in state unemployment insurance records, but these data exclude students who moved out of state after college.
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.