As the President, policymakers, and pundits air their ideas about creating jobs and supporting middle America, here is an undeniable fact that should be top of mind.

Public investments in higher education have been - and will continue to be - invaluable in job generation and supporting a strong middle class.  

Despite this fact these investments have not kept pace with rising college costs. Today’s young adults are often saddled with virtually the entire price tag for a college degree.  Not surprisingly, many students are borrowing over $20,000 and working long hours to fund their studies, compromising their ability to graduate (on time or at all) and  to find gainful employment.  

President Obama’s budget proposal gives a strong nod to the importance of educational opportunity. Among other changes, it would increase the value of the Pell grant, the largest source of need-based financial aid. It would also strengthen our community colleges through new investments and greater accountability.

Congressional policymakers are also considering The Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act as a tool to make college affordable.  This legislation would end all loans made from the private lender-based guaranteed loan program, creating savings large enough to fund the President’s budget proposals on higher education.  SAFRA has passed in the House of Representatives and is awaiting discussion in the Senate.  

Policymakers and the President have the right idea, but they need to have the stamina to make this idea a reality.

The way to put community colleges to work in job creation does not end with funding issues and putting smart legislation in place.  Students also need better information about postsecondary options and their associated returns.

A new report, "Graduated Success: Sustainable Economic Opportunity Through One- and Two-Year Credentials"  highlights how the field of study chosen by students matters a lot in terms of the economic value and employability of a postsecondary education. The report also shows that finishing a community college credential, even a one-year certificate, is often a smarter bet than going for broke and borrowing huge amounts and not completing a four-year degree.  

In particular, one- and two-year credentials in engineering and in health care can deliver higher salaries than bachelors degrees in other fields – for tuition costs that are lot less.

According to the report, forty-three percent of those who hold a certificate as their highest degree earn a median annual salary that is higher than that earned by someone holding an associates degree. And twenty-seven percent of those holding a community college certificate as their highest degree earn a median annual salary that is higher than someone holding a bachelors degree.

Nearly a third (31 percent) of associates degree holders earn more than someone holding a bachelors degree.  Students awarded one- or two-year certificates earn median annual salaries that are $8,000 a year more than those who leave school with no post-secondary award.  

The salaries earned by those with community college certificates in engineering and health care ($47,000 and $46,000 respectively), are close to what bachelors degree holders in the social or natural sciences earn, and are actually more than what someone holding a bachelors degree in education earns.

National job trends also point to bright prospects for students seeking careers with a community college credential in hand.  From 2006 to 2016, job growth for associate degree holders was projected to be at 19 percent, nearly double the average for all workers. The health care sector was expected to generate more new jobs by the end of this period than any other industry, and the engineering field also looked rosey.

While the economic downturn has changed the game somewhat, the overall trend remains.  One and two-year credentials are a smart investment for those seeking employment, particularly in engineering and health care. These are jobs that will exist and need to be filled even in a down economy.  

As the budget battle continues to be waged and the creative solutions for job creation debated, all involved should support a substantive investment in community colleges and its students.

Aid and affordability will continue to be key.  While community colleges are less expensive than four-year schools, students must still cover everyday living costs, such as housing, transportation, healthcare, child care, and other basic expenses. The average low-income student attending a community college has $7,000 in unmet expenses after financial aid grants are taken into account.  

Community college students who receive higher levels of financial support, which enables them to enroll full-time and work moderate number of hours, graduate at much higher rates and in a shorter period of time than others.

It is not only the case, though, that rising tuition costs need to be stalled, and innovative funding needs to happen so that students can make basic ends meet without working full-time while studying. Students themselves must also take stock of their options, and make wise career choices.