The Women’s Union estimated that in 2004 a single adult in Boston supporting a preschooler needed a salary of $44,000 to ensure economic self-sufficiency.  This is close to the median wage for someone with a two-year degree from a public community college.  Support of the community college system is necessary to give unskilled workers the tools they need to provide for their families and thrive in a changing economy.

How are we doing?

While many other states are promoting workforce development and economic growth through investment in high quality, well distributed community colleges, state funding for Massachusetts’ community college system has declined, and quality and enrollments throughout the state are uneven.

In 2003, enrollment in Massachusetts' community colleges overall was 118,198 students, just 2.5% higher than in 1992.  There are two community colleges in the City of Boston — Bunker Hill and Roxbury.   Between 1997 and 2003, the number of associate’s degrees awarded increased 22% at Bunker Hill but declined 2% at Roxbury.  Statewide, the number of Associates degrees awarded was up 3% over the same period.  Almost half of the Associate degrees awarded at Bunker Hill in 2004 were liberal arts degrees, 16% were in medical support, 15% were in business, and 12%  in computers and technology.  It remains to be seen how the state’s cuts to higher education will affect the number of degrees awarded.

Enrollment in non-credit workforce development courses at community colleges was at an eight-year high in fiscal year 2004, with 77,625 enrolled statewide.