Community College Research Center

Community College Research Center Housed at Teachers College, Columbia University, CCRC is the leading independent authority on the na In 1996, the Alfred P.

Sloan Foundation invited Thomas Bailey, director of the Institute on Education and the Economy at Teachers College, Columbia University, to submit a proposal to form a community college research center. At the time, very little was known about two-year public colleges despite the fact that they enrolled nearly half of the nation’s undergraduates. In the years since, CCRC’s research on community co

lleges has served to generate and inform a renewed interest in these essential higher education institutions, and continues to make vital contributions to higher education research, policy, and practice.

In March 2025, CCRC was notified by the U.S. Department of Education that four of its grants from the Institute of Educa...
06/01/2026

In March 2025, CCRC was notified by the U.S. Department of Education that four of its grants from the Institute of Education Sciences had been terminated. This spring, three of the grants were reinstated. In a new blog post, CCRC Director Thomas Brock gives an update on the impacted projects.

In March 2025, CCRC was notified by the U.S. Department of Education that four of its grants from the Institute of Education Sciences had been terminated. This spring, three of the projects were reinstated. In this blog post, Thomas Brock gives an update on the reinstated projects.

In a new blog post, two former dual enrollment students share how colleges and high schools can foster community, a sens...
05/15/2026

In a new blog post, two former dual enrollment students share how colleges and high schools can foster community, a sense of belonging, and a college-going culture through dual enrollment-focused clubs and student advisory panels.

Two former dual enrollment students share how colleges and high schools can build community, a sense of belonging, and a college-going culture among dual enrollment students through dual enrollment-focused clubs at high schools and student advisory panels at colleges and universities.

A new report examines why some students still struggle in reformed developmental education contexts, considers strategie...
05/05/2026

A new report examines why some students still struggle in reformed developmental education contexts, considers strategies for improving their experiences and outcomes, and reports on innovations under development at four community colleges participating in a Community of Practice.

This report examines why some students still struggle in reformed developmental education contexts, considers strategies for improving their experiences and outcomes, and reports on innovations under development at four community colleges participating in a Community of Practice. This report examine...

"College is objectively a big expense, no matter how you cut it," Judith Scott-Clayton told NPR. "However, it's importan...
04/13/2026

"College is objectively a big expense, no matter how you cut it," Judith Scott-Clayton told NPR. "However, it's important to note that that $100,000 price tag that gets so much attention in the news is an extremely rare price for students to actually pay. Most families are paying much less than that, and we don't want that scary number to scare off the vast majority of students for whom college is a much more affordable investment."

NPR's Ayesha Rascoe speaks with economist Judith Scott-Clayton about the cost of college in the U.S. They discuss the difference between sticker and net price and the opaqueness of tuition costs.

In The EDU Ledger, Judith Scott-Clayton said a new wave of federal policy changes around financial aid will disproportio...
04/03/2026

In The EDU Ledger, Judith Scott-Clayton said a new wave of federal policy changes around financial aid will disproportionately impact first-generation students, low-income students, and students of color.

“It’s not just the student loan changes, but the reduction in research funds, which affects doctoral enrollment, the pressures on international student enrollment, definitely the new graduate loan caps and just the general uncertainty and potential confusion and complexity—all that stuff is going to make it harder for the aid that is still there to have the impact on the students we’re trying to reach,” she said.

When you peel back the veneer of recent financial aid policy changes, scholars worry we are creating a system that is becoming increasingly “blunt" in its application and racialized in its impact.

Based on a review of relevant literature and interviews with experts and administrators, a new report discusses how fede...
03/30/2026

Based on a review of relevant literature and interviews with experts and administrators, a new report discusses how federal policy aims are addressed by Adult Education English as a Second Language (ESL) providers and the distinct role that community colleges play in delivering Adult Education ESL programming.

This report discusses how federal policy aims are addressed by AE ESL providers and the distinct role that community colleges play in delivering AE ESL programming.

A new blog post introduces an updated version of the Community College Program Mapper—a practical data tool designed to ...
02/25/2026

A new blog post introduces an updated version of the Community College Program Mapper—a practical data tool designed to help colleges see which students are on a path to success and which are not, and to guide colleges to strengthen supports for students to explore and plan a program of study aligned with their education and career aspirations.

This blog post introduces an updated version of the Community College Program Mapper—a practical data tool designed to help colleges see which students are on a path to success and which are not, and to guide colleges to strengthen supports for students to explore and plan a program of study align...

Our latest brief introduces an inventory of advanced infrastructure, energy, and agriculture (AIREA) jobs and identifies...
02/19/2026

Our latest brief introduces an inventory of advanced infrastructure, energy, and agriculture (AIREA) jobs and identifies regions with well-aligned job demand and credential production to help policymakers support community and technical colleges in developing and expanding programs where trained workers are needed most.

This brief introduces an inventory of advanced infrastructure, energy, and agriculture (AIREA) jobs and identifies regions with well-aligned job demand and credential production.

Based on findings from a study examining the policies and practices impacting multilingual learners (MLs) at City Colleg...
02/11/2026

Based on findings from a study examining the policies and practices impacting multilingual learners (MLs) at City Colleges of Chicago, a new CCRC report provides insights for community college practitioners and policymakers on the goals and backgrounds of MLs, their experiences, and promising approaches to serving this population.

This report provides insights from City Colleges of Chicago for community college practitioners and policymakers on the goals and backgrounds of multilingual learners, their experiences, and promising approaches to serving this population.

A January webinar focused on how states fund community college dual enrollment and featured a panel of college leaders w...
02/11/2026

A January webinar focused on how states fund community college dual enrollment and featured a panel of college leaders who shared strategies for financially sustainable investments in advising and student supports, high-quality instruction and support, and expanded outreach and access.

A January webinar explored how states sustainably fund dual enrollment at community colleges and featured a panel of college leaders.

Address

Teachers College, 525 W 120th Street
New York, NY
10027

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+12126783091

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Community College Research Center posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The University

Send a message to Community College Research Center:

Shortcuts

Share