Community College
Community colleges play an imperative role in the communities they serve. They fulfill a variety of educational needs for students from a range of backgrounds, offering continuing education and certificate programs in addition to associate’s degrees. However, as our national student debt escalates, community college is becoming an attractive option for those planning to continue on to a bachelor's degree too. Many name community college as the quick-fix to the student debt crisis. Is it?
This post may very well be the most controversial installment in the series. However, it’s important I address community colleges because they are often cited as the go-to solution to the student debt crisis. From the get-go I want to make it clear that I appreciate community colleges, and I don’t want to undermine their value and place in American higher education. I am grateful for the community college in my hometown and the roles it played in my life. I took violin lessons at the college for seven years and began my freshman year of college with many credits already fulfilled because I took dual credit classes through the community college during high school. To the myth believer’s credit, community colleges are usually the cheaper alternative to the same credits at universities. However, community and junior colleges are not direct substitutes for four-year institutions.
Fact: community colleges do not confer bachelors or graduate degrees. Mark Kantrowitz, Senior Vice President and Publisher of Edvisors, stated in an interview, “Starting off at a community college may save money, but that’s a detour that may cause you to miss your destination. Community colleges are great if you want to get an Associate’s degree or certificate. But among students who intended to obtain a Bachelor’s degree, only about a fifth of those who started at a 2-year institution succeeded in getting a Bachelor’s degree within six years. That compares with two thirds of students who started off at a 4-year institution.” I’m not trying to confuse correlation with causation; an astute student isn’t going to lose any academic prowess by attending a two-year school. However, they have more ducks to line in a row in order to earn their bachelor's degree in the same time. Furthermore, the financial benefits of community college can be negated when it takes additional time (and additional funds) to complete a four-year degree.
What are you looking to get out of your college experience? Universities and community colleges offer different trade-offs. Community colleges offer the same lower-level classes universities do for less per credit hour, and many students choose to live at home which saves money. They also give students the opportunity to improve their academic record so they can try to gain admission into universities they may have been unable to get into earlier. Additionally, they can offer a more relaxed setting for college students to take core classes and explore potential fields to choose as a major. Universities have academic opportunities community colleges don't like involvement in research and study abroad opportunities. A program allowed me to enroll in a class comprising of mainly juniors and seniors as a first-year student. There are many more extracurricular opportunities at universities with more widespread involvement because universities foster student life. Community colleges serve the community; universities create a campus community.
When evaluating the two financially, community colleges usually beat out four-year colleges and universities. But I'm a proponent of anyone seeking higher education no matter where that may be. Some people start out at a community college or take classes online because it's the best fit for their situation. Some people start out at a public or private university because it's the best fit for their academic and career ambitions. There's room for both and a need for both.
by: Paige Witthar
Other Resources: Breakthrough Collaborative outlines why it focuses on four-year colleges and universities instead of community colleges.
