Last year, I had the honor of conferring 549 associate degrees and 114 certificates to College of the Redwoods students. One of the great pleasures of my position is watching students learn and develop over the course of their studies, knowing that they will leave our college well prepared to meet their personal and professional goals. Their success is a strong reminder of the vital role higher education serves in advancing social and economic mobility and stability.

Much has been reported recently about sky-rocketing tuition and the subsequent debt that students find themselves burdened with after graduation. Understandably, this had led to a perception that the value of a college education in America has diminished. I’d like to take a moment to counter that argument.

An associate degree delivers significant value not only because the educational journey encourages personal growth and increases job skills and knowledge, but also because it results in increased lifetime earnings. The Education Pays study by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics consistently shows gains in median earnings and reductions in unemployment rates with each additional level of educational attainment. And even those who complete only some college but do not earn a diploma or certificate still have higher earnings over their lifetimes than those with only a high school diploma.

Across the California Community College system specifically, students who completed their associate’s degree earned over $16,000 more per year on average, and their annual salary following education was approximately $50,000 per year. At College of the Redwoods, students who come to build their skills or who complete degrees and certificates, consistently report strong levels of employment. Over 75% report securing a job in a field that is close to their program of study. Most find a job within three months. And, most impressive of all, students report an average gain of 53% in hourly wages after completing their educational training at CR.

The Foundation for Research on Equal Opportunity published a study this year tracking the return on investment for nearly 17,000 associate degrees and certificates. For students who graduated on time, the median return on investment was $167,000 for an associate’s degree and $115,000 for a certificate over a lifetime. Of course, some degrees and certificates result in higher earnings than others. Graduates with degrees in health care and technology-related fields have been found to secure the highest paying jobs. Some of the fastest-growing careers in these fields only require an associate’s degree.

As student loan debt becomes a significant topic of discussion across the country, the cost to obtain an associate’s degree from College of the Redwoods remains relatively low, especially compared to community colleges in other states.

To support students as they work towards their education and employment goals, we offer a variety of grants, fee waivers, and scholarships to ease their financial burden. CR’s College Access Program, for example, waives enrollment fees for eligible first-time, full-time students. We also have special programs that provide financial assistance, support and encouragement for eligible income-disadvantaged students. One year of tuition fees at CR costs less than $1,500 and most of our students, through some combination of grants, scholarships and other financial aid, pay just $43 per semester for fees and tuition. Given this low cost and short time to completion, a community college degree is a great value.

I am aware of the financial struggles facing many in our community, and I have seen how powerful education can be in bringing opportunity and upward mobility to people who might not have seen college as an option.

I believe that the future of College of the Redwoods is extremely bright. I know that our future will require new tools, new experiences, and an innovative approach to the education of our students. We will accomplish this by working collaboratively with the faculty, staff and community to ensure that College of the Redwoods maintains its high-quality curriculum and services that meets the needs of today and tomorrow.

Dr. Keith Flamer is the president of the College of the Redwoods.