There’s been much talk in higher education circles as well as at kitchen tables regarding the costs of college attendance, student loan burdens, and whether there is always a worthwhile return on investment. These are relevant questions, given that the typical in-state public-university student pays approximately $110,000 for four years of attendance including tuition, books, fees and living accommodations or $225,000 for a private university.

As an economist who focuses on labor market data, I can add that the needs of employers are constantly shifting in today’s high-tech world. This means educational institutions need to know how to pivot their programs quickly. In addition, many employers have shed their four-year degree requirements and now focus more on shorter-term certifications. In some cases, those certifications can even be completed while a student is still in high school through career technical education, also known as CTE programs.

My nonprofit works closely with a local institution that recognizes this, and that works assiduously to match employer needs with real-time, relevant training for students. High schoolers and older learners have caught on that they can, indeed, find good, livable wage jobs by pursuing these certifications in the high-demand occupations.

So, it’s not surprising to me that enrollments are up overall across Colorado’s 13 community colleges. In particular, our local Pikes Peak State College has had an 11% increase in enrollment this school year. Front Range Community College has had a 14% increase in enrollment. These two institutions make up almost half of all community college student enrollments across the state.

A prime example of this is a brand-new program at Pikes Peak State College for a two-year behavioral health degree. PPSC just received state approval for this program that will commence next fall.

It’s especially impressive that this degree can be completed while a student is still in high school through a CTE program. This means a student can get relevant training for a very high demand occupation at no cost. Older learners would pay about $4,000 to complete this program over two years. A graduate of this program could initially work do follow-up calls to behavioral health patients, assist with counseling at K-12 schools, or do educational programing for substance abuse as examples.

And such a graduate would have the credentials to quickly transition to one-on-one counseling — all of this within two years of training and at an incredibly low cost.

Another example is the new Python (IT) certification that will be offered at Widefield School District 3 high schools. This relevant, real-time training is, indeed, part of the new workforce landscape, and we are fortunate to have institutions like Pikes Peak State College, as well as forward-thinking school districts that are responding to our business and broader community needs.

Tatiana Bailey