AMARILLO, TEXAS -- A study by the American Institutes for Research shows community college dropouts cost the nation nearly $1 billion during the 2008-2009 school year.

The state of Texas alone has suffered a $74 million loss from dropouts.

"What our students are telling us," Vice President for Amarillo College Academic Affairs Russell Lowery-Hart said, "is it's because of the cost, transportation issues, child care, the day-to-day life issues that get in the way of education that we as a state and we as a college have to find a way around."

According to Lowery-Hart, AC is above the national average when it comes to dropout rates.  But he said that is not good enough.

AC is one of 35 Achieving the Dream schools in the nation.  These schools will spend the next three to five years researching student submission rates and coming up with solutions to decrease them.

"We're working to do that," Lowery-Hart said.  "Looking at success in developmental ed courses, looking at success in gateway courses, persistent rates and really looking at issues of poverty because we think that's an important barrier that we can overcome."

Lowery-Hart said it is vital for students to obtain a degree, as 80 percent of jobs in the future will require a certificate or an Associate's degree and 20 percent will require a Bachelor's.