A study found that Bakersfield College’s students can, on average, look forward to a brighter financial future than any other community college in California, and came in sixth in the U.S.
The Brookings Institution, the private nonprofit organization that conducted the study, looked at mid-career salary, location, and loans, as well as social networking sites such as LinkedIn. Its purpose was to determine how well community college alumni were doing financially and correlate that with which school they attended.
Naturally, this news was well received by the administration of Bakersfield College, but was also exciting for students and faculty. Certainly, this study will provide the school with a promotional boost and this latest news will definitely find its way to the school’s catalog printing service.
Explanations for the school’s success varied depending on who was asked. One person associated with Bakersfield College, Amber Chiang, suggested it was the school’s strong emphasis on STEM education.
Phyllis Wachob, an adjunct professor, pointed out that the students at the school were highly motivated and were enrolled specifically to increase their earning. She also gave credit to the dedication of the staff and the personal interest they take in each of their students.
Whatever the reason for the college’s success, the study is certainly an added incentive for those considering attending community college in this area.
