The path to Baltimore’s “best prospect” jobs without a college degree: career credentialing programs at Baltimore’s community colleges.
Only one in five graduates of Baltimore City Public Schools matriculates to a four-year college; the vast majority enroll in community college or look for a full-time job. Baltimore graduates and job-seekers need postsecondary training that works.
“The Path to Baltimore’s “Best Prospect” Jobs without a College Degree: Career Credentialing Programs at Baltimore’s Community Colleges” identifies “best prospect” jobs—those that require a two-year degree or less and pay more than $34,000—and explores the career credentialing programs at Baltimore City Community College (BCCC) and the Community College of Baltimore County (CCBC) that align with those jobs.
The report finds 74 “best prospect” jobs across six industry sectors and identifies 105 programs at the community colleges that deliver training and often lead to a workplace credential relevant to those jobs. Those programs, however, often carry significant obstacles that make it difficult for students to complete them. Moreover, the lack of individual-level student records makes it difficult for policy makers and job seekers to evaluate the effectiveness of these programs. The report concludes with recommendations to improve the community colleges’ career credentialing offerings and students’ access to them.
The Baltimore Sun: Abell Foundation says community colleges must focus training on Baltimore’s emerging jobs