I read at the Oregonian, Oregon's largest circulation paper that only 1 of 100 students that seek a community college transfer degree succeed. However about 7 of 10 persons that go to Oregon's largest University graduate. Thus university is about 70 times more effective than community college at heightening earnings.
Thus if you know anyone attending community college urge them to immediately apply to full university. Its worth a few hundred thousand $ or more.
Notably online review sites say test prep is effective, thus a few funds used on test prep could permit immediate University transfer.
Kudos to online reference finders.
"Oregon's college completion rate is 15 percent for community college students, 54 percent for public four-year university students and 67 percent for students attending private four-year colleges, according to Complete College" http://www.oregonlive.com/education/index.ssf/2010/03/oregon_college_students_crash.html
University of Oregon's graduation rate is 67 per 100, so going directly to university is more than four times as likely to succeed.
I strongly support the value of education to simply know things or learn new abilities. A networking class, an Art or electronics course, a literature course; all of value even absent a certificate. Although I have not located the reference, I think another Oregonian article states that 8 of 100 nontransfer certificate seekers gain a certificate.