Putting Students First Are Associate Degrees Preparing Graduates For Successful Careers?

The earnings of associate degree holders have been climbing in recent decades relative to high school educated workers, but inflation-adjusted salary gains have been weak, and the average benefits of getting a two-year degree mask considerable variation. This report summarizes what is known about how well community colleges are preparing their students to attain high incomes and high levels of satisfaction with their lives. It organizes findings into sections that discuss the major data sources and what can be readily observed from them.