A coalition of community college advocates asked Carnegie to withdraw its new Student Access and Earnings Classification, arguing the rubric understates community‑college missions and mischaracterizes outcomes. Leaders say the classification — which links access and post‑college earnings — risks distorting public perceptions and policy decisions for two‑year institutions that serve nontraditional, part‑time and working students. Carnegie officials, by contrast, defended the methodology and its intent to provide nuanced institutional profiles. The dispute highlights tensions between metric‑driven accountability and mission‑sensitive evaluation: community colleges warn that headline classifications can influence funding, employer partnerships and student choice even as researchers and policymakers seek standardized comparative tools.