School Name: Coahoma Community College
Median Cost of Attendance: $7 054
Undergraduate Population: 2 216
Endowment Needed: $312 633 280
Analysis: Coahoma Community College needs an approximately $313 million endowment for all of its students to attend debt free annually. The school is located in Clarksdale, MS where almost 55 percent of the 20 000 plus population is African American. HBCUs in Mississippi either 2 year or 4 year face serious demographic issues in major part due to the median income for African Americans in the state being below the national poverty income.However, CCC is positioned with over 10 percent of the town’s population to greatly influence the public funding towards the institution. The ability to build its endowment could largely lie in it building intimate relationship with a number of HBCUs in the region and supplying them with quality graduates. With the growing importance of two year institutions as college grows more and more expensive and yet necessary, the influx of students through two year institutions will continue to spike. Coahoma Community College would be well served to create programs that are both four year tracks as well as tracks for non-academic careers like electricians, plumbers, and the advancing green job movement. However, it must do so with two things in mind. First, it must create a social connection for the students. They must feel that CCC was integral in their college experience whether they graduated at two years or went on to a four year. Secondly, and just as important for those focused on the two year track and non-academic studies they must offer a study in entrepreneurship for it. Not just teaching one to become an electrician but how to own and operate an electrician firm. Given that generational wealth is created via ownership of companies and firms this would ensure their students are job and wealth creators. This in turn will produce potential donors in the future that are intimately connected to the school.
