HCC RECEIVES CARNEGIE DISTINCTION

Published on Jul 2, 2025

Carnegie classifies Henderson Community College as ‘Higher Access, Higher Earnings’ Opportunity College

Henderson Community College’s focus on opening its doors widely to students and equipping them for higher wages and workforce success has gained national recognition.

The Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Learning has named HCC as an Opportunity College for “Higher Access, Higher Earnings,” one of only 60 community colleges in the nation.

“We are thrilled to receive this national distinction because it affirms what we see every day -- students walking through our doors with big goals and limited means, and walking out prepared for jobs that change their lives and their families’ futures,” said HCC President Jason Warren.

In the 2023-24 academic year, 27% of HCC students were the first in their families to go to college, and 41% of students received Pell Grants. Nearly 70% of credentials were awarded in the higher-wage, targeted industry sectors.

Affordability and access are a core mission. HCC students pay less than half the average of the state’s public universities.

The Opportunity Colleges and Universities designation is part of a newly developed Student Access and Earnings Classification published by the Carnegie Foundation and the American Council on Education.

This new classification examines the extent to which institutions foster opportunities for student success by measuring whether institutions are enrolling students reflective of the communities they serve and how the earnings of those students compare to peers in their area.