Education

Younger Students Drive Surge in Community College Degrees, New Report Finds

Of the 3.4 million graduates in 2024–2025, roughly 892,300 had previously earned a postsecondary credential.
Younger Students Drive Surge in Community College Degrees, New Report Finds
Students take a selfie with the blooming corpse flower known as "Pangy" at the Talcott Greenhouse on the campus of Mount Holyoke College in South Hadley, Mass., on April 14, 2026. AP Photo/Leah Willingham
Evgenia Filimianova
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Community colleges are seeing a notable shift in who is earning degrees, with younger students increasingly choosing associate programs, according to a new report by the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center.

Students aged 18 to 20 now make up the largest share of first-time associate degree earners, according to the report, published on April 16.

Evgenia Filimianova
Evgenia Filimianova
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Evgenia Filimianova is a UK-based journalist covering a wide range of international stories, with a particular interest in foreign policy, economy, and UK politics.