Released in partnership with the Aspen Institute College Excellence Program, this report highlights early outcomes from the first 10 colleges in the Unlocking Opportunity network. The authors demonstrate that community colleges can rapidly increase enrollment in high-value workforce and transfer pathways while reducing enrollment in or improving programs with weaker labor market and bachelor’s degree outcomes.
Between 2022 and 2025, the participating colleges collectively moved more than 20,000 additional students into high-value pathways by redesigning academic programs, strengthening advising and onboarding, improving transfer pathways, aligning programs with employer demand, and using data to drive institution-wide change.
The report is designed for community college leaders, policymakers, researchers, and practitioners seeking evidence-based approaches to improve students’ post-graduation outcomes. Alongside network-wide findings, it features college examples and practical lessons that demonstrate how institutions can strengthen program value and help more students access good jobs and bachelor’s degrees.