Community college leaders urged the Carnegie Classification to withdraw its new Student Access and Earnings metric, arguing the measure mischaracterizes two‑year institutions and could stigmatize colleges that serve higher‑need populations. Carnegie has defended the new classification, saying it provides transparent data on access and post‑graduation earnings, but critics contend it risks narrowing public perception of community‑college missions. Advocates worry the classification could influence state policy, philanthropy and student choice in ways that penalize colleges focused on equity and workforce entry points. Carnegie’s stance and community colleges’ opposition set up a policy debate over how to measure institutional success for access‑oriented institutions.