What You Should Know About Graduating From Community College in Indiana
As you prepare for community college, it’s important to think about what kind of career you’d like. In 2019, the occupations that had the highest median wages for associate degree holders in Indiana were air traffic controllers, radiation therapists, nuclear medicine technologists, dental hygienists, and diagnostic medical sonographers.
There’s no doubt that the job market can get competitive. Job seekers with an associate degree should review career fields that typically have high availability. The occupations projected to have the most job openings for the next decade in Indiana are preschool teachers (excluding special education), paralegals and legal assistants, physical therapy assistants, dental hygienists, and respiratory therapists.
Another important factor to consider when pursuing a career is which fields you should avoid. Occupations in Indiana that require an associate degree and are expected to decline in employment over the next 10 years include respiratory therapy technicians, desktop publishers, mechanical drafters, human resources assistants (excluding payroll and timekeeping), and broadcast technicians.
What’s Next?
As you pursue community college, it’s important to consider how you are going to fund your education. To help associate degree students find financial aid, we’ve put together a list of federal and state resources that connect you to grants and scholarships in Indiana.
- Indiana Commission for Higher Education. The Indiana Commission for Higher Education supports students interested in attending post-secondary institutions by facilitating access to both merit-based and need-based scholarships.
- Federal Student Aid. Each year, the U.S. Department of Education’s office of Federal Student Aid grants over $120 billion in scholarships, loans, and financial aid. Students can see if they qualify by visiting the FAFSA4caster, and they can apply by completing the online FAFSA form.
- CareerOneStop. Sponsored by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, this site offers useful details about the different scholarships in each state, such as award amounts, qualification requirements, and application deadlines. Users can even filter this information by degree level and location.