Enrollment booming at community college on clarkhoward.com

There have been several studies lately questioning the value of a college education. It's understandable during a recession that's been equal opportunity about hitting people of all education levels.

Yet four-year degree holders on average make far more than high school graduates. In fact, the Census Bureau has estimated that having a college degree will net you an average of 67 percent more money over a lifetime.

Clark firmly believes that education creates opportunity. He's heartened to see that enrollment levels at community colleges are booming off the charts. They're having to schedule classes at very odd hours -- before daybreak, late into the night and on weekends.

Community colleges are a great way to get the training you need to change fields if you're in a dead-end job. President Obama is launching a new initiative to help community colleges provide affordable education for our nation's workers.

And the boom at community colleges may create opportunities to teach part-time right now in your area of expertise.

In today's economy, we have to continually reinvent ourselves. A small number of us get a very specialized education and that's all we need -- such as doctors, chemists, physicists and others. But even in those fields, you can switch what kind of doctor you are by going and getting more training.

Clark's daughter is a college junior who is slightly behind schedule to graduate on time. He's offered to get a tattoo the size of a quarter if she finishes on time! Clark hates tattoos, but the offer really impressed on his daughter his feelings about the importance of education.

What others are saying

2 year degree's can be better
You don't need a Bachelors degree to get into a great career, an associate or trade degree can be just as good or better, especially for people changing careers mid-life like myself. I'll be a radiologist next year and I'll have numerous places to choose where I'll begin my career, and the pay will be very good compared to most middle-class salaries. It's better to get the minimum schooling in then get into a position somewhere, then continue schooling after if necessary. This not only helps people get set into a job quicker, but it can allow that person more choices on which direction to go and how to pay for that extended schooling. I will most likely continue my education after a few years into my career, and that will allow me to figure out if and where I should advance my education specifically, it will also help me financially being many employers, especially in my field, help employees work around college and help pay for it. I've lost my 50k a year in late 2007, I've been working temp services and crappy jobs since while going to college, your hard work will eventually pay off. Don't stay in a dead end job, if you have to at least go to college part-time so you can eventually move on from that go nowhere job.
By Chris @ 09/28/09 11:14:39 PMreport abuse
subsidies
eliminate public subsidies, either state or federal from higher education and you will see enrollment plumet. the best way to do this is to double the cost of tuition, then rebate that higher tuition at 50-100% for those who graduate on time with a degree.
why do we continually let those wandering aimlessly thru life clog the scarce resources of publicly subsidized higher education. it is time to stop the nonsense.
reward those who graduate on time with a bonus (refund of all or more than all of the increase i talked about), and at the same time discourage those clogging the educational system.
this will in turn reduce demand signigicantly because it will help weed out the lazy and wandereres and this will, in my view end the tremendous spiral of higher education costs driven purely by supply/demand imbalances and almost endless public subsidies.
By brian @ 09/27/09 01:23:51 PMreport abuse
Education
You should only go to college if you major in a field that will get you a job.

Non specific 4 yr degrees like business administration, management, are a penny to a dozen.

I think people are going back to school out of desperation.
Too many degrees---not enough jobs.

Also those statistics given out (check the sources).Census Bureau works with the schools to put out this report.
By Tim @ 09/27/09 12:47:45 AMreport abuse
Lets graduate at break neck speed, only to be unemployed lol....

But I guess Clark's daughter will have no problem finding a job coz she is the "king's" daughter.
By anonymous @ 09/26/09 04:19:03 PMreport abuse
Slightly behind is OK
Yes, education is important. But finishing slightly behind schedule is not a big deal, and not worth sacrificing Clark’s goal of living a tattoo-free life. Deciding to not finish at all would be a problem large enough to be addressed by a dad’s drastic measures.
By Bert @ 09/26/09 12:39:59 PMreport abuse

2 year degree's can be better

You don't need a Bachelors degree to get into a great career, an associate or trade degree can be just as good or better, especially for people changing careers mid-life like myself. I'll be a radiologist next year and I'll have numerous places to choose where I'll begin my career, and the pay will be very good compared to most middle-class salaries. It's better to get the minimum schooling in then get into a position somewhere, then continue schooling after if necessary. This not only helps people get set into a job quicker, but it can allow that person more choices on which direction to go and how to pay for that extended schooling. I will most likely continue my education after a few years into my career, and that will allow me to figure out if and where I should advance my education specifically, it will also help me financially being many employers, especially in my field, help employees work around college and help pay for it. I've lost my 50k a year in late 2007, I've been working temp services and crappy jobs since while going to college, your hard work will eventually pay off. Don't stay in a dead end job, if you have to at least go to college part-time so you can eventually move on from that go nowhere job.

By Chris @ 09/28/09 11:14:39 PMreport abuse

subsidies

eliminate public subsidies, either state or federal from higher education and you will see enrollment plumet. the best way to do this is to double the cost of tuition, then rebate that higher tuition at 50-100% for those who graduate on time with a degree.
why do we continually let those wandering aimlessly thru life clog the scarce resources of publicly subsidized higher education. it is time to stop the nonsense.
reward those who graduate on time with a bonus (refund of all or more than all of the increase i talked about), and at the same time discourage those clogging the educational system.
this will in turn reduce demand signigicantly because it will help weed out the lazy and wandereres and this will, in my view end the tremendous spiral of higher education costs driven purely by supply/demand imbalances and almost endless public subsidies.

By brian @ 09/27/09 01:23:51 PMreport abuse

Education

You should only go to college if you major in a field that will get you a job.

Non specific 4 yr degrees like business administration, management, are a penny to a dozen.

I think people are going back to school out of desperation.
Too many degrees---not enough jobs.

Also those statistics given out (check the sources).Census Bureau works with the schools to put out this report.

By Tim @ 09/27/09 12:47:45 AMreport abuse

Lets graduate at break neck speed, only to be unemployed lol....

But I guess Clark's daughter will have no problem finding a job coz she is the "king's" daughter.

By anonymous @ 09/26/09 04:19:03 PMreport abuse

Slightly behind is OK

Yes, education is important. But finishing slightly behind schedule is not a big deal, and not worth sacrificing Clark’s goal of living a tattoo-free life. Deciding to not finish at all would be a problem large enough to be addressed by a dad’s drastic measures.

By Bert @ 09/26/09 12:39:59 PMreport abuse

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Sep 25, 2009 -- Enrollment booming at community college

What others are saying