What You Should Know About Graduating From Community College in Ohio
While you prepare for community college, you should consider your career and salary aspirations. As of May 2021, the top five careers with the highest median wages for associate degree holders in Ohio were air traffic controllers, radiation therapists, nuclear technicians, nuclear medicine technologists, and dental hygienists.
Job seekers with associate degrees may have better luck finding employment if they focus on careers that typically have high job availability. The occupations expected to have the most annual job openings for the next decade in Ohio are preschool teachers (excluding special education), paralegals and legal assistants, physical therapist assistants, occupational therapy assistants, and radiologic technicians.
As you review different career options, you should also take into account which jobs are projected to decline over the next ten years. Occupations that require associate degrees and are expected to undergo a large drop in employment in Ohio are desktop publishers, nuclear technicians, mechanical drafters, and human resources assistants (excluding payroll and timekeeping).
What’s Next?
As you prepare for community college, it’s important to review the different financial aid opportunities available to you. We’ve put together a list of federal and state resources to facilitate access to scholarships, grants, and financial aid opportunities for associate degree students in Ohio.
- Ohio Department of Education. The Ohio Department of Education helps residents find financial aid by providing information about budgeting, scams, and resources at the local, state, and federal levels.
- Federal Student Aid. The U.S. Department of Education’s office of Federal Student Aid provides over $120 billion in annual scholarships, grants, work-study opportunities, and loans. Students interested in applying can check their eligibility at the FAFSA4caster. To apply, complete the online FAFSA form.
- CareerOneStop. This resource, sponsored by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, connects students with useful information about scholarships. After filtering their search by degree level and state, users gain access to details about award amounts, qualifications, and deadlines.