Table 5 shows that, with the exception of whites, all groups represented a higher percent of associate degree recipients in 1995 than in 1977. The number of associate degrees awarded to African Americans in the United States increased by 38 percent over the past two decades. African Americans received 9 percent of all associate degrees awarded nationwide in 1995, an increase from 8 percent in 1977 and from 8 percent in 1987. Hispanic and Asian students saw the highest percent increase in all associate degrees awarded over the past two decades. In the 20-year period, the number of degrees awarded to Hispanics increased by 111 percent, and the number awarded to Asians increased by 191 percent.
Community colleges aspire to accomplish a broad mission that is both a blessing and a curse.
They are open-admissions institutions. They seek to prepare students for entry-level jobs in a broad range of technological, allied health, and business occupations. They aim to prepare students to transfer and succeed in upper-division baccalaureate degree programs. They seek to remain accessible for traditional-age and older students. There is hardly an urban or suburban area of the country that does not have a community college.