Florida Community Colleges are top producers of nation’s Associate Degrees

Florida Community Colleges are top producers of nation’s Associate Degrees

44,843 associate degrees awarded to Florida community college students last year

For the sixth year in a row, Florida community colleges rank among the top producers of associate degrees in the United States. According to Community College Week’s annual Top 100 report conducted by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), Florida institutions lead America’s more than 1,200 community colleges in an array of degree categories.

"Florida’s community colleges are an integral part of our education system," said Education Commissioner Eric J. Smith. "I commend them on their long-standing commitment to open access for all students and the invaluable role they play in preparing a skilled workforce for Florida’s economy."

Degrees awarded during the 2006-07 academic year were compiled for the 2008 Top 100 report through the NCES Integrated Postsecondary Education Data Set’s Completion Survey (IPEDS). Associate Degrees are defined as Associate of Arts, Associate of Science, and Associate of Applied Science degrees conferred during the 2006-07 academic year. With 44,843 associate degrees awarded last year, Florida community colleges lead in the following categories:

• Total Associate Degrees
• Degrees awarded to African-American students
• Degrees awarded to Hispanic students
• Health Professions and Related Sciences Degrees
• Nursing Degrees
• Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Students and Humanities Degrees

"Our Florida colleges continue to excel at providing access to postsecondary opportunities, and meeting the demands of the workforce and the diverse student populations we serve," said Community College Executive Vice Chancellor Dr. Judith Bilsky.