Research Institute at Dallas College

Across the country, metro areas are struggling to keep pace with the growing demand for workers in high-paying, middle-skill jobs—roles that typically require more than a high school diploma but less than a bachelor’s degree. Too often, there’s a mismatch between the number of available jobs and the number of people earning the credentials needed to fill them. The Dallas–Fort Worth region reflects this national trend, with projected workforce needs outpacing credential production. However, Dallas College plays a key role in addressing this gap. As one of the largest providers of sub-baccalaureate credentials in the region, Dallas College equips nearly 3,500 students each year with credentials that align with the high-paying middle-skill jobs included in this report. By continuing to expand access and align its programs with local workforce needs, Dallas College is helping to build a stronger, more equitable economy for North Texas. Click the link in the comments to find out more about the Georgetown report.

Our team at Dallas College, The Research Institute, is looking for a part-time researcher to work on a dual credit project, studying P-TECH students in the metroplex. https://lnkd.in/eavXxTm4

One of the primary goals of higher education is to equip students with the skills and credentials that lead to greater financial success. A key way to measure this success is through return on investment (ROI), which evaluates the financial benefits of earning a degree compared to the costs. Georgetown University’s 2025 ROI report reveals that for 2021-22 College Scorecard data, Dallas College surpasses the median ROI of 2-year public institutions in both Texas and across the country. This achievement underscores the value of a Dallas College education in providing students with a strong economic advantage. It is important to note that the Georgetown calculations do not subtract out earnings that someone would receive if they were to complete a high school diploma alone. Click the link in the comments to find out more about the Georgetown report.

Congratulations to Mr. Navi Dhaliwal, our Director of Economic Research and Data Strategy, who was interviewed as part of his Harvard fellowship for Strategic Data Project (SDP). Navi's work is an effort to enhance student outcomes assessment, which is critical to serving our students at Dallas College. See transcript of his concise interview with Harvard...it also includes interview questions with his supervisor, David Mahan, Executive Director at the Research Institute. https://lnkd.in/e_r9a7pW Navi Dhaliwal David Mahan

The League for Innovation in the Community College recently featured the Research Institute in an article written by Navi Dhaliwal and Dr. David Mahan. Titled "Applying Research to Close Gaps in College Economic Outcomes," the article highlights the Research Institute’s efforts to support student success and outcomes at Dallas College and beyond. From data collection and defining success metrics to engaging with college leadership, the article explores how the Research Institute analyzes student pathways and economic outcomes to drive meaningful change. By leveraging research and data, the team works to better serve both students and the broader Dallas community. Please find a link to the article in the comments.

Congratulations to the Dallas College research teams! We had a great showing in Corpus Christi at the annual 'TAIR' (TX Assoc of Institutional Research) conference. Dallas College had a record 10 TAIR presentations! The Research Institute presented two topics: -Mitigating Early Student Loss Through Internal and External Collaborations -Benchmarking Dallas College's Key Performance Indicators: Integrating Diverse Data Sources to Assess Institutional Success Even better than the numbers...the sessions were focused on how to better understand and serve our students. Thanks for all the support.

Dallas College is committed to serving our community by providing high-quality, affordable education to a growing student population. Across the country, the cost of higher education remains a significant barrier for many prospective students. To help address this challenge, Dallas College’s annual tuition and fees are less than 75% of the national average for public in-district community colleges. While we recognize that tuition is only one part of the overall cost of education, keeping it affordable allows students to better manage other expenses and focus on achieving their academic goals.

Despite national projections of declining high school graduates, Texas is expected to see an increase through 2041. To address concerns about college affordability for these graduates, Dallas College continues its partnership with the Dallas County Promise, ensuring more students have access to higher education. From 2009 to 2023 the percent growth of graduates from high schools participating in Dallas County Promise has closely followed the state level trends. Through the promise program, these graduates can receive a tuition-free college education through an Associate Degree, supported by success coaching and simplified career pathways to help Dallas County students access and complete higher education. To find out more about the Dallas County Promise program and participating schools click on the link in the comments.

We are excited to announce that the Research Institute’s study on the long-run outcomes of dual credit students in 22 Dallas-area ISDs has come to a close.  This 2.5-year study was facilitated by state longitudinal data held at the Texas Education Research Center at UT Dallas and supported by faculty at the Texas Schools Project at UT Dallas, Holly Kosiewicz and Trey Miller. It considers whether dual enrollment is associated with students’ financial outcomes over a longer, twelve-year time horizon after high school graduation than previously analyzed in the existing literature.  The manuscript was accepted to the Annenberg Institute at Brown University’s EdWorkingPapers Series and can be viewed by clicking on the link in the comments.

Institutions of higher education assess the total numbers of students they serve, and even more importantly, the number of students who graduate. From the academic year 2021-22 to 2022-23, Dallas College reported 4.24% growth in the number of African American students earning any credential (certification, award or degree). During the same period, the state of Texas and the National rate declined 4.15% and 0.73% respectively. This research highlights the efforts of Dallas College faculty and staff members to not only enroll more students, but to also support them in completing a credential in preparation for high demand, high wage jobs.