What You Should Know About Graduating From Community College in New Hampshire
When researching community colleges, you should consider your career potential and desired salary. In 2021, the top five highest-paying jobs in New Hampshire that require an associate degree were air traffic controllers, funeral home managers, radiation therapists, nuclear medicine technologists, and diagnostic medical sonographers.
New graduates emerging into the workforce should take into account which job fields tend to have the most openings. The top five careers with the highest employment rates for associate degree holders in New Hampshire are preschool teachers (excluding special education teachers), paralegals and legal assistants, dental hygienists, veterinary technologists and technicians, and radiologic technicians.
Along with reviewing the careers that typically have the most job openings, students should examine which fields often have low employment rates for associate degree holders. For example, mechanical drafter jobs are projected to decline over the next decade.
What’s Next?
The cost of tuition is an important factor to consider when researching community colleges. Below is a list of federal and state resources that describe some of the scholarships, grants, and other financial aid opportunities available for associate degree holders in New Hampshire.
- New Hampshire Department of Education. The New Hampshire Department of Education offers information on both state and federal grant funding, including details about loan programs and financial aid.
- Federal Student Aid. Every year, over $120 billion in financial aid is awarded by the U.S. Department of Education’s office of Federal Student Aid. Students interested in aid can check their eligibility through FAFSA4caster and submit an application through the online FAFSA form.
- CareerOneStop. CareerOneStop, which is sponsored by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, offers details about the scholarships and grants available in each state. The site lets you filter information by degree level and state, which makes it easy to find scholarships that you are qualified for.