The Community College Research Center (CCRC) is the leading independent authority on the nation’s more than 1,200 two-year colleges.  Since our inception, CCRC’s consortium of researchers has strategically assessed the problems and performances of community colleges.  Our mission is to conduct research on the major issues affecting community colleges in the United States and to contribute to the development of practice and policy that expands access to higher education and promotes success for all students.  CCRC’s extensive body of research provides a strong foundation on which to build new policies and initiatives to improve the outcomes of these institutions so integral to the higher education system, employment landscape, and national economy.

For many, community colleges are the gateway for access to higher education. The Community College Research Center provides policymakers, academics, and the colleges themselves with the impartial information they need to establish programs and policies that can better serve students and create successful institutions.  

-- Thomas R. Bailey, Director, CCRC

Community Colleges: Key Opportunity and Access Institutions

Currently enrolling over 10 million students every year, community colleges are the critical entry points to higher education and economic opportunity for half of the nation’s college students.  

Community colleges serve high numbers of non-traditional students who are often older than 25, working part- or full-time, parents with dependent children, from ethnic minorities, and from low-income households. These institutions cater to high school students seeking enhanced learning opportunities, high school graduates looking for a cost-effective way to begin their college education, individuals interested in obtaining technical or vocational certification, and full-time employees who seek special training.

Research demonstrates that a community college education can yield significant economic benefits for the students who attend them and to their current and future employers. Those who complete associate degrees often earn between 20-30 percent more than individuals with no more than a high school degree. Community colleges are an essential component of the nation’s higher education system, and are paramount to helping learners of all ages and backgrounds earn higher incomes and achieve their greatest potentials.

Community colleges are critically important centers of educational opportunity that face daunting challenges as enrollments grow and public funding is cut. CCRC’s innovative research team provides sharp and independent analysis that is having a profound influence on critical issues affecting the growth and development of these access institutions.

--George Boggs, President and CEO, American Association of Community Colleges

People choose to attend community college because of our flexibility and our desire to meet students' individual needs. The expertise that CCRC's highly trained staff brings to our work can help us improve our teaching. By better understanding the pedagogy used to teach community college students we will become even more successful providers of this unique type of higher education.

--Eduardo Marti, President, Queensborough Community College

CCRC PROGRAMS AND SERVICES

Research

Understanding the pivotal role of community colleges requires solid research that can help to develop policies that will achieve the most effective outcomes for community college students and the institutions themselves.  As independent researchers with in-depth knowledge of community colleges, we are uniquely positioned to evaluate these institutions. At CCRC, we conduct quantitative and qualitative studies on community colleges to analyze their policies and programs and uncover emerging trends.  CCRC’s research includes:

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Missions and roles of community colleges

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Student pathways and outcomes

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Workforce education

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High school to college transition programs

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Access and success for minority and low-income students

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State and federal demands for community college accountability and assessment

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Developmental education and academic preparation

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Community college financing

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Retention, graduation, and transfer patterns

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Counseling and student support services

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Adult education

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Distance education

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Federal programs to increase science and technical preparation

>> Learn More About CCRC Research

Seminars

Through our ongoing seminar series, CCRC provides opportunities for community college faculty and administrators, policymakers, and researchers to work together to develop their common agenda of strengthening the influence and effectiveness of these important institutions. Participants gather to exchange ideas, present research findings, and explore new areas of study. For information and dates about upcoming seminars, please visit our website.

Presentations and Publications

CCRC staff regularly present research findings to various audiences at major conferences nationwide.  The dates, locations, and topics for upcoming presentations can be found on our website.  Reports of research findings, occasional papers, and CCRC Briefs are also available electronically.  The Center maintains an extensive mailing list consisting of leaders in education, business, government, media, and policymakers, to which it regularly sends announcements of new and ongoing research and recent publications.  Please see our website or contact us to receive electronic updates.

Fellowships

To increase the number of scholars working on community college issues, CCRC funds research fellowships for graduate students committed to developing dissertations on community college topics.

CCRC was established in 1996 by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, and is housed at the Institute on Education and the Economy (IEE) at Teachers College, Columbia University.  The continued generosity of the Sloan Foundation and support from other foundations and federal agencies makes the work of CCRC possible.