Why is Community College Enrollment Declining?

Why is Community College Enrollment Declining?

From Career Education Report by Career Education Colleges and Universities ​

May 6, 2026 · 27 min · Episode 107

About this episode

The episode discusses the relationship between community college enrollment and local labor markets, featuring insights from Josh Goodman.

New findings from the National Bureau of Economic Research find strong relationships between America's community colleges and local labor markets, but what does that mean for higher education? Josh Goodman , Associate Professor of Education and Economics at Boston University and co-author of the report joins host Jason Altmire to discuss how strong labor markets drive down demand for education as people are incentivized to enter the workforce rather than pursue a degree. On the other hand, a weaker labor market sees a significant increase in community college enrollment as people want a next step even if they can’t find employment. Because colleges play a key role during difficult economic times, Josh argues that policymakers should rethink how they fund post-secondary education in order to support a vital tool for rebuilding America's economy. To learn more about Career Education Colleges & Universities, visit our website .

People in this episode

Host: Jason Altmire

Guest: Josh Goodman

Topics covered

  • community college
  • enrollment decline
  • labor market
  • higher education
  • economic impact

Keywords

  • community college
  • enrollment
  • labor market
  • higher education
  • economic research

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: National Bureau of Economic Research, Boston University, Career Education Colleges and Universities

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