Innovation
FirstDegree serves the interests of students, employers, and educators by making the Associate degree more valuable and marketable.Students earn more while achieving a valuable goal.
Colleges fulfill their mission to educate by graduating students sooner and at a higher rate.
Employers have access to a more educated and skilled workforce.
Much of this is accomplished through the searchable database coming soon. We will feature a comprehensive list of Bay Area career starting places for community college graduates. Thousands of LOCAL job descriptions for which one with an Associate degree qualifies!
Research
FirstDegree collects and compiles data on the profile of student populations and outcomes at Bay Area community colleges for the purpose of advancing those goals articulated in Our Mission.According to our report Community Colleges RankedTM system, the following schools ranked among the top ten:
1. Napa
2. Solano
3. Mission
4. Las Positas
5. Chabot
6. Contra Costa
7. Merritt
8. West Valley
9. Santa Rosa
10. Skyline
Information
Now's the Time for Community Colleges to Shine
CantonRep.com
September 16, 2009
Cheryl Powell learned to type on a manual typewriter. Today, she’s studying computer programming....Read the full story
Obama: Community Colleges Can Help Boost Ailing Economy
CNN.com (AP)
July 14, 2009
Community colleges are only two-year institutions, but the Obama administration says they could play a key role in helping boost the ailing economy for years to come....Read the full story
Community Colleges
Gaining Respect, Admissions
San Francisco Chronicle August 2, 2009
Huge oaks in full leaf, rose gardens, stately brick buildings - it looks like any well-funded, exclusive private college. But appearances deceive in this case: Santa Rosa Junior College is one of California's most accessible institutions of higher learning. ..Read the full story