PSC is among the top in degrees


  • October 1, 2015
  • /   Reggie Dogan
  • /   education

Community colleges are important pathways to more advanced education or better career opportunities.

Earning an associate degree is a springboard to advancement for many, whether they transfer the credits to a four-year college or use it to find a better job.

Pensacola State College has been a leader in higher education for more than 60 years, and for the seventh year in a row it made the list among the top 100 Associate Degree producers in the country.

Community College Week magazine also ranked PSC in the top 50 lists for granting associate degrees in specific areas.

The college ranks 26th in registered nursing, nursing administration, nursing research and clinical nursing; and 40th in health professions and related programs. Overall, PSC ranks 96th in awarding associate degrees in all disciplines.

PSC President Edward Meadows emphasized that associate degrees are important as the foundation for a bachelor’s degree or as a direct path to a high paying career, especially in technical and health fields.

“This national ranking affirms that Pensacola State is among the best at providing the programs, faculty, facilities, counseling, and financial aid needed for students to earn their degrees,” President Meadows said.

“The rankings in nursing and health sciences also affirm the tremendous need of these specialized programs and Pensacola State’s commitment to meeting the local workforce needs of our region’s hospitals, medical clinics and health care providers.”

Community College Week magazine compared more than 5,500 colleges that award associate degrees, including two-year and four-year institutions, both public and private.

The ranking is based on data collected by the U.S. Department of Education’s National Center for Education Statistics in the 2013-2014 academic year.

To be sure, community college graduates are well-positioned with technical and workforce skills businesses are looking for while commanding top salaries.

Community college graduates, on average, earn a higher starting salary than those who graduate from four-year institutions, according to a recent study by The Miami Herald.

Community College Week is a bi-weekly national publication specializing in issues related to community colleges for college presidents, chief academic officers, faculty, student-service professionals, librarians and other educators.

It includes news and features not provided by other news sources, including analyses of critical academic trends and issues, vital statistics, technology updates and employment opportunities. Every year, they release a report listing the number of degrees and certificates awarded by two- and four-year colleges.

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