About this episode

In this episode, Dr. Aarti Dhupelia explains that community college is an affordable, local, and career-aligned path that can deliver some of the highest return-on-investment outcomes in higher education. She makes the case that community college should be seen as a bold first choice for many students. They stay closely connected to local employers, offer flexible schedules for working learners, and provide multiple “on-ramps” to success, such as transferring to a four-year university, entering the workforce after an associate degree, or combining work and school along the way.

She also shares what she sees in the community college students she works with: resilience, maturity, and a strong work ethic shaped by balancing jobs, family responsibilities, and classes at the same time. She explains why all these traits make them desirable candidates for the workforce.

She also outlines the biggest barriers community college students face, including basic needs insecurity, navigating complex college systems, and not always getting a fair shot from universities or employers. To help students thrive, she encourages them to seek help early and often. She also stresses the importance of building relationships with advisors, and pursuing work-based learning like internships and apprenticeships. She ends by emphasizing that students don’t have to do it alone, and every credit earned is momentum toward a brighter future.

Mentioned in this episode

One Million Degrees - Aarti's organization. One Million Degrees accelerates community college students’ progress on career pathways to economic mobility.
City Colleges of Chicago - Chicago's public community college system, and One Million Degrees' biggest partner.