Community colleges helped to create and retain over 135,000 Illinois jobs in the last five years through economic development initiatives. Heading off the spread of poverty among these groups and reversing the growing disparity of wealth and income are among the most important tasks facing our nation. Community colleges are one of the keys to meeting these challenges. Success in this unprecedented challenge is essential if America's workers are to earn good wages and if their employers are to compete in demanding world markets. Illinois community colleges account for 60 percent of all undergraduate students enrolled in Illinois public higher education.
Community colleges are the primary provider of the higher education experience in Illinois.
In 1995, more than 31,000 college and university graduates returned to Illinois community colleges for additional education and training. Illinois community colleges educate, train, and enhance the lives of almost one million students each year. Nearly one out of every 11 Illinois citizens attends an Illinois community college. The average age of community college students is 30 years of age. Nearly two-thirds of all minorities in public higher education attend community colleges, and nearly 11,000 students with disabilities and 38,000 students with limited English proficiency are served annually.