For far too long, there has been a wrongfully placed stigma on community college students.
Incorrectly assumed to be academically unready, financially unstable, or personally unprepared for traditional college, community college students often carry a burden of being thought less of than their peers at universities. However, the coronavirus pandemic may change this assumption. Many students may be making an objectively better decision for their future by going the community college route.
Atop the list of numerous benefits to the community college system is the obvious one: affordability. During the 2019-20 academic year, the average annual tuition and fees for attendance at a two-year college was $3,730, much cheaper than the substantially higher $10,440 tuition cost for in-state public colleges. Out-of-state four-year tuition was more than twice that, with an average of $26,820 in tuition costs, and private college students paid an even higher price at $36,880.
The difference in price further expands with room and board. With only about 1% of community college students actually living on campus, room and board costs are almost a nonissue. On the other hand, it makes up a significant portion of the cost of higher education for those at four-year institutions. Including room and board, the cost to attend public in-state, public out-of-state, and private institutions is an astounding $21,950, $38,330, and $48,879, respectively. These figures show that even the “cheaper” four-year route of public in-state schooling is still nearly six times more expensive than the community college path.
Excessive tuition has proven to be a major problem, causing a student-debt crisis in America. More than 45 million people hold a continuously expanding collective debt of over $1.5 trillion. Increased student debt restricts people from starting businesses, buying homes, and saving for retirement, among other things, all of which weigh down the United States economy.
Further, in a time in which racial tensions are at their worst, student debt has shown to affect minorities disproportionately. Over one-quarter of white student borrowers default on their loans within 20 years, while nearly half of black borrowers and one-third of Latino borrowers default within the same time frame. A cheaper route to higher education seems like a sensible idea. A less expensive degree is an invaluable advantage that should be met with commendation, not condescension.
Community colleges also provide a smoother and safer transition into the higher education realm. For those unsure whether or not college is for them, community college allows people to embark on a post-high school education without the big move and big loans associated with the four-year experience.
Nearly one-third of college students drop out before their sophomore year. For community college students, this means between roughly $3,000 and $8,000 worth of debt if loans covered full tuition. For university students, debt is exponentially higher. Someone who stopped schooling after completing two years at community college will likely possess an associate’s degree. On the other hand, stopping school two years into a university leaves students in potentially massive craters of debt with no degree or certification to show for it.
Another perk of community college is its built-in flexibility. Designed partially to cater to part-time, working adults, community colleges offer more evening and weekend classes, more online options, and more nonattendance-mandatory courses. All of these features result in more student control over schedules and more freedom to work or, in times like these, tend to family. Increased availability to earn income during community college enrollment also contributes to the affordability of this educational avenue.
COVID-19 further displays why we should rethink four-year institutions as the optimal landing spot for higher education. For many colleges and universities, their selling point is the coveted “college experience.” High school students are frequently told that the community college route denies people the opportunity to enrich their knowledge and further their education in the same way a four-year institution would.
The arena of civil discourse, the immersive community of brainy scholars, and the stellar social experience are some of what is said to set the university apart from the two-year community college. However, the coronavirus makes these alluring features largely irrelevant. With many classes online and the “new normal” of face masks and social distancing, the meaningful interactions we are accustomed to become rather difficult. What does a four-year college currently have to offer? What is the difference between a Zoom class at Northern Virginia Community College and the University of Virginia? The answer: The former is much cheaper.
COVID-19 also exposes the already-high and inconvenient fees imposed on students, including campus fees, technology fees, lab fees, transportation fees, athletic fees, and many more. These add-ons are often costly, swelling the already expensive price of college by thousands of dollars more. During this pandemic, these fees have become entirely pointless and practically indefensible.
There are several substantial advantages to community college. Not only should its current stigma be erased, but students presumed to be fit for four-year institutions would be wise to factor into their decision the benefits associated with community college coursework for the first two years. Given COVID-19, this is more true than ever. After all, students who go directly to a four-year institution and those who instead transfer in will cross the graduation stage holding the same diploma.
Cameron Cox is a fourth-year student at the University of Virginia and is completing his degree from the Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy.
