Click HereCommunity colleges are great places to start the next phase of your education because they offer so many options, both in courses of study and paths to achieve your goals.
Just look at any community college catalog or at the programs listed at the college's Web site. You'll find a wide choice of subjects to study, from accounting to computer technology, to nursing, to automotive mechanics, to personal finances. Remember that community colleges are geared to responding to the needs of the local and national economies, so you'll find coursework related to filling jobs in areas of high demand. Obviously, not every course of study is available at every community college, but you should be able to find a program that suits your needs and interests.
According to a recent study by the American Association of Community Colleges, the top five fields of study, or "hot" programs where community college graduates are in high demand, are:
- allied health such as registered nursing, licensed practical nursing, and radiologic technology.
- information technologies such as computer technologies, networking, and graphic design.
- industrial skilled trades such as automotive technology, construction, welding, and trucking.
- business such as general business, paralegal studies, and accounting.
- public services such as law enforcement, emergency medical services, and homeland security.
As you begin to think about what you want to study, consider some of the projections from the U.S. Department of Labor for the years 2004 until 2014.
Computer and healthcare occupations are expected to grow the fastest"that is, they will have the largest percentage of change in the number of available jobs; they will also add 1.8 million jobs during this time. When you look at the educational and training requirements for the occupations that will adding the most new jobs, here's what is expected:
Postsecondary Vocational Award
- Nursing aides, orderlies, and attendants
- Pre-school teachers, except special education
- Automotive service technicians and mechanics
- Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses
- Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists
Associate's Degree
- Registered nurses
- Computer support specialists
- Dental hygienists
- Paralegals and legal assistants
- Medical records and health information technicians
Bachelor's degree
- Elementary school teachers (except special education)
- Accountants and auditors
- Computer software engineers/applications
- Computer systems analysts
- Secondary school teachers (except special and vocational education)
What Can I Earn?
No matter what path you've chosen in community college, your education will increase your earning ability now and throughout your lifetime. Here are recent U.S. Census Bureau figures on median earnings (median is the midway point in the salary range) for various levels of education:Median Earnings
| Less than high school graduate | $18,144 |
| High school graduate (includes equivalency degree) | $25,360 |
| Some college or associate's degree | $30,891 |
| Bachelor's degree | $42,404 |
| Graduate or professional degree | $55,065 |
FIND OUT MORE
- The best source of information about the full range of programs and training available to you will be found at your community college's Web site and through its publications, such as the college catalog and the schedule of classes.
- The U.S. Department of Labor's Web site (www.bls.gov) and especially its Occupational Handbook (www.bls.gov/oco/home) are great resources of information about the "hot" areas of employment and educational or training requirements.
- www.careervoyages.gov is a federal government Web site that provides up-to-date information about careers, occupations that are in demand, and growth industries for students, parents, and individuals who are changing careers, as well as for career advisors. You'll find information about certificate and two-year degree programs and other alternatives to four-year courses of study.
