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Marion Technical College Named an Opportunity College and University by the Carnegie Classifications
A new Student Access and Earnings Classification recognizes institutions that foster opportunities for student success
Marion Technical College has been recognized as an Opportunity College and University by the Carnegie Classifications. This designation highlights Marion Tech as a model for studying how campuses can foster student success.
Marion Tech was in the top 16% of all U.S. colleges and universities ranked based on having higher earnings for students eight years after enrolling as well as higher access for underserved populations.
“Our goal is to improve the lives of our students and graduates. It’s an honor to be recognized for helping our students succeed. We are humbled to be recognized as a leader from thousands of colleges and universities across the nation,” said Dr. Ryan McCall, president of Marion Tech.
Eight years after attending Marion Tech, students earn a wage that is $10,862 a year more than similar adults with just a high school diploma.
Marion Tech currently serves 3,500 students. In 2022, about 19.9% of students were from underserved minority populations. In addition, about 43% of students who were seeking a certificate or degree received a Pell grant, which covers the entire cost of tuition for those who can least afford college.
Marion Tech also prides itself on serving a number of first generation college students who many need more guidance navigating higher education. Many of its leaders are also first generation college graduates.
“Marion Tech is focused on providing a great return on students’ investments of time and money – substantially improving their earning potential and providing pathways to starting or advancing in their careers,” said Dr. McCall. “We are helping students from all backgrounds succeed. Most of our graduates remain in the community, so their higher income benefits the local economy.”
About the Recognition
The Opportunity Colleges and Universities designation is part of a newly developed Student Access and Earnings Classification published this month 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.
In 2025, 479 institutions have been identified as Opportunity Colleges and Universities, which is about 16% of all U.S. colleges and universities that are in the Student Access and Earnings Classification.
The methodology for the new Student Access and Earnings Classification uses multidimensional groupings of the 2025 Institutional Classification to evaluate student access and earnings between similar colleges and universities.
More information about 2025 Student Earnings and Access Classifications, including the methodology, can be found here.
About the Carnegie Classification
The Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education is the leading framework for recognizing and describing institutional diversity in U.S. higher education. The Carnegie Commission on Higher Education developed the classification in 1973 to support its program of research and policy analysis, and it was updated in 1976, 1987, 1994, 2000, 2005, 2010, 2015, 2018, 2021, and 2025 to reflect changes among colleges and universities. It will next be updated in 2028, with subsequent updates every three years.
About the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching
The mission of the Carnegie Foundation is to catalyze transformational change in education so that every student has the opportunity to live a healthy, dignified, and fulfilling life. Enacted by an act of Congress in 1906, the Foundation has a rich history of driving transformational change in the education sector, including the establishment of TIAA-CREF and the creation of the Education Testing Service, the GRE, Pell Grants, and the Carnegie Classifications for Higher Education.
About the American Council on Education
ACE unites and leads higher education institutions toward a shared vision for the future. With more than 1,600 member colleges, universities, and associations, ACE designs solutions for today’s challenges and advances public policy to support a diverse and dynamic higher education sector. Learn more at www.acenet.edu.
