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Bi-weekly updates on Initiatives at Maryland's Community Colleges
March 31, 2017

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IN A CRAB SHELL

With nearly half the undergraduate population of Maryland enrolled at 16 colleges, on 23 campuses and 1000+ locations, it can be challenging to capture and share all that’s happening at Maryland’s community colleges.
-- However, with In A Crab Shell, we are going to try. --
Similar to the more well-known phrase in a nutshell, -- In A Crab Shell provides a concise, bi-weekly discussion of issues important to higher education and the
State of Maryland.
MAKING ENDS MEET
Part 1 of a 2 Part Series
Even as as U.S. family incomes remain flat, the cost of postsecondary education continues to rise and state support, on average, remains down 32% since its pre-recession levels.* College students are having to rely on many funding sources to stay in college while making ends meet. 
Reduced government support is affecting college completion rates, loan default rates, student postsecondary aspirations, and even the ability of students to meet basic needs such as food and shelter.


* The Education Trust, https://edtrust.org/our-resources/infographics/?q=

Harder for Today's College Students

SOURCE: American Association of Community Colleges, DataPoints

A Pell Grant is a subsidy the U.S. federal government provides for students who need it to pay for college. Federal Pell Grants are typically limited to students with financial need, who have not earned their first bachelor's degree.

Only the Poorest Students are Pell Eligible

SOURCE: Center for Community College Student Engagement. (2017). Making ends meet: The role of community colleges in student financial health. (see complete citation below)
  • Pell Grants go only to the most needy students.*
  • 40% of students receiving Pell Grants, also rely heavily on student loans.**
SOURCES:
* U.S. Dept. of Education., Office of Postsecondary Education (2013). 2011-12 Pell Grant program end-of-year report.

** Center for Community College Student Engagement. (2017). Making ends meet: The role of community colleges in student financial health. (see complete citation below)
SOURCE: Center for Community College Student Engagement. (2017). Making ends meet: The role of community colleges in student financial health. (see complete citation below)
It is the Poorest Students Who Rely Most Heavily on Student Loans
  • Almost 40% of student loan borrowers have debts of $10,000 or less. *
  • These same borrowers have a 1 in 3 chance of defaulting within 3 years of taking the loan. *
  • Many community college students struggle to meet their most basic needs, such as food and housing, while trying to stay in college.**

Just Barely Making Ends Meet
or
Maybe Not Making it to the Finish Line at All

Almost 50% of community college students have run out of money 1 - 12 times during the past 12 months.
Most have no "safety net."
SOURCE: Center for Community College Student Engagement. (2017). Making ends meet: The role of community colleges in student financial health. (see complete citation below)
47% of community college students say their financial situation is a constant threat to completing college.*
  • Without significant improvement in college affordability, college completion goals will not be attained.
  • College affordability is more important today than ever before.
  • Time is limited, by 2020, 69% of Maryland's jobs will require some level of postsecondary training or education. **
SOURCES:
* Center for Community College Student Engagement. (2017). Making ends meet: The role of community colleges in student financial health. (see complete citation below)
** Recovery - Job Growth and Education Requirements through 2020. Georgetown Center for Education and the Workforce
MHEC LAUNCHES AWARENESS CAMPAIGN
To address the difficulty so many families have in paying for college, the Maryland Higher Education Commission (MHEC) launched a campaign to increase awareness about college access and affordability on March 27, 2017. Well-known personalities from sports, entertainment, business and government will speak about financial aid opportunities at outreach events around Maryland. More at MDgo4it.org.
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Interested?
Explore more in the following report, the source of several of the above graphics:

Center for Community College Student Engagement. (2017). Making ends meet: The role of community colleges in student financial health. Austin, TX: The University of Texas at Austin, College of Education, Department of Educational Administration, Program in Higher Education Leadership.

ICYMI (in case you missed it) earlier versions of In A Crab Shell can be found here. 
 

Copyright © *|2017|* *|Maryland Association of Community Colleges|*, All rights reserved.


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