An Exploration of College and Career Alignment for Community College Students

This study employed the career capital framework (DeFillippi & Arthur, 1994; Inkson & Arthur, 2001) and the associated three ways of knowing adapted for community colleges: knowing why (aspirations), knowing how (knowledge and skills), and knowing whom (sources of information). The authors constructed an index to measure the alignment of community college students' experiences and careers. Using survey data captured at seven institutions in three states, the authors identified career capital-related predictors of such alignment. Attending for professional advancement, career program enrollment, student aid and work considerations, and community social networks were among the significant predictors.