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For some time now, school-age kids and their Many adult students enroll at WCC in order to gain a skill
parents have been told that nothing less than
a degree from a four-year college will land a good, well-paying job and long-lasting career in the modern economy. But that’s changing. As the cost of college zooms past the reach of all
but the wealthiest families (or the students most deserving of scholarships), both employers and potential employees are questioning the role college plays in many industries.
While certain professions, such as medicine and law, still require advanced degrees, many others offer high salaries, good benefits, and satisfying jobs to those with associate degrees, training certificates, and other paths to specific, job- based knowledge — without the potentially crushing debt left from a four-year degree.
This shift in thinking is still a work in progress, though. “Having letters behind your name does not make you a better employee. It is going to take intentional and explicit work to change the perception that a four-year — or more — college degree is the singular path to career success,” says Tracy Racicot, director of adult and community services at Southern Westchester BOCES (SWBOCES). She argues that pursuing education and skills
in shorter-term training programs gives young people “better informed, practical and worthy career choices.”
Just over 62% of those entering a four-year college complete their degree within six years, according to the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center’s Completing College reports released February 2022. “That means close
to 40% did not complete and will most likely have debt or default on loans. Students who chose a practical alternative to a four-year college are more immediately employable. There are many jobs with pathways for those trained in the skilled medical, construction trades and technology fields,” she says.
For example, SWBOCES provides tuition-based job training and education to those over age 18 in a wide range of high- demand sectors. It has training programs in healthcare (EKG/ phlebotomy, clinical medical assistant, and more), construction (electricity, plumbing, carpentry, HVAC, welding), automotive technology, auto body repair, and computer networking technology. According to U.S. Bureau of Labor Standards Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, these jobs pay from the mid-$30,000 range to the low $80,000s in the New York region, she says.
COMMUNITY COLLEGE VS. 4-YEAR COLLEGE: NOT AN EITHER-OR CHOICE
Community colleges also offer short-term credentials, certificates, and associate degrees that prepare individuals to enter middle-skill jobs, says Teresita B. Wisell, vice president, workforce development and community education at SUNY Westchester Community College (WCC). “These jobs allow individuals to enter an industry career pathway with potential for advancement upon further education or training. In addition, community colleges are often an option for those who value the lower tuitions.”
and enter the workforce, she says. “Today, higher education doesn’t necessarily happen in a linear continuum for all people. Many individuals begin their higher education at a community college, enter the workforce and are fulfilled in a good position that offers them good pay. Some then return to higher education in order to advance in their chosen fields. In other words, a community college versus a four-year college is not an either-or choice.”
WCC offers opportunities for applied, experiential learning in its career and technical education programs, including clinical experiences and field work, as well as internship opportunities.
At top: SUNY Westchester Community College offers multiple certificates in advanced manufacturing, including CNC Milling Operator and CNC Turning Operator. Above: The college’s annual Nursing Pinning marks nursing students’ official introduction to their profession. Opposite page: Southern Westchester BOCES provides training in trades such as welding.
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© Courtesy of SUNY Westchester Community College © Courtesy of SUNY Westchester Community College