Why even community college is now out of reach for many students

Market Warch
Jillian Berman
Dec. 15, 2016

A college education is increasingly becoming an unaffordable luxury for most families — even at a community college.

In more than two-thirds of states, the share of the median family income required to attend a community college full-time grew by as much as 5% between 2008 and 2013, according to a report from the Institute for Research on Higher Education at the University of Pennsylvania’s Graduate School of Education. As a result, it’s harder for students to finance a community college degree — in 37 states, students have to work 20 hours a week or more at a minimum-wage job in order to afford to attend community college full time, the report found.

More... Why even community college is now out of reach for many students - MarketWatch

 

I'm never a fan of the victim mentality.

 

"Victim mentality" is a meaningless phrase designed to stop a substantive discussion (just like "identity politics", or "right to choose" vs. "sanctity of life"). One must always dig to what exactly is meant by the canard like this in any particular instance.

For example: one of the major reasons for CCs existence is to provide an educational option to all community residents, regardless of income. The report suggests that in certain circumstances, this goal is not being achieved anymore. This is tangible issue. One may move on to discuss what, if any, policy response this might invite. OR, one can simply label this "victim mentality" and reduce conversation to ideological shouting match.

(disclosure: this poster received 6 years of postsecondary education at a government-run institution, paying no tuition and receiving a negligible monthly stipend. FWIW.)

 

I don't see how that applies here.

 

I stopped reading the article at this point,

" in 37 states, students have to work 20 hours a week or more at a minimum-wage job in order to afford to attend community college full time, the report found."

That's what I did. I worked straight through college, sometimes working full-time and going to school full-time. To me, the above quotation is a little bit like saying, "In 37 states people have to actually work in order to pay the rent." Now if the point is that college costs too much then I'll probably agree (although we know of some very inexpensive programs, don't we) but if the point is that people shouldn't have to work then I'm going to disagree.

 

Every student is different. However, the concept of going to school "full time" implies that working 20 hours a week or more would interfere with studies. I know most of us could do it, but "most of us" here are not the traditional CC demographics.

 

Agree completely. The implication that having to work through college is something that needs to be explicitly reported is a bit concerning, but I also wonder what a more 'acceptable" number would be here. If the colleges were 25% cheaper and students only had to work 15 hours per week, would this be a stat that needed to be reported? If ANY type of work while going to college full time requires one of these footnotes, that student loan bubble burst is going to be even worse than I thought.

 

I agree that the higher education system is overpriced. I also agree with working while earning a degree, it's something I also have had to do. However, many traditional students can't walk, chew, gum, and listen to music at the same time. I'm sure I was one of them when I graduated high school. The loan debt is getting out of hand. The information here is wonderful and a great resource, but how people younger students bother to look up this kind of information? Most of them want to go to a school close to home or has a big name. Either choice is most likely overpriced, unless they were simply lucky to live by an affordable institution.

 

I understand your point but you can't really know that.

 

Actually, I didn't time to write a thorough reply, and after reading most of the story didn't hardly have the energy to write what I wrote. It's so pathetic, to complain of an open access educational opportunity open to ALL American Citizens for which only 13% will even BOTHER to graduate. All that for five- to ten grand (and MOST will qualify for a Pell to boot). I'm sorry if I'm not feeling sympathetic to the complainers. If you want a scholarship full ride to a 4-year college, then you can't show up on day 1 and ask for it. You have to have been busting it in the preceding 4 years of high school. The rest of us, the 99%, have to figure it out. I figured it out (thanks Degree Info) and I teach other people how to figure it out, but at the end of the day, you JUST MIGHT have to work hard to get something. Sometimes, working 10 hours per day to put yourself through a 2 year program in 4 years is what it takes. Sometimes, you might have to change jobs to find an employer willing to pay. Need a list? Target, Starbucks, Best Buy, Home Depot, Gap, Verizon, I could go on.

Sometimes, if you're motivated, you can collect 202 pages of ways to go to college that cost zero tuition. Of course, most people aren't motivated. I, on the other hand, am very motivated.
https://www.amazon.com/Completely-FREE-Colleges-Jennifer-DeRosa/dp/1511582529/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1481850121&sr=8-1&keywords=completely+free+colleges

COST isn't the barrier the Hillary and Bernie want us to believe it is, not at the 100/200 level - total fiction. Is cost a barrier at 4 year colleges? Yep. Even public colleges will set you back the cost of a Mercedes S-class.

My "victim mentality" comment was directed to the author of the article, making a pitiful attempt to drum up sympathy for a problem that doesn't exist.

EDIT TO ADD: here's a solution I get behind. If you want to make college "free for everyone" make grad school free.

 

Disclosure: THIS poster taught for 18 years at a community college where her students were required to work 6,000 hours (full time 3 years) at minimum wage while completing 12 credits per semester resulting in a 87 credit associate degree /US Dept of Labor apprenticeship for culinary arts. Not a lot of cocoa and blankies being handed out to line cooks who complain about working "only" 52 hours a week. Not feeling the pain of the 20 year olds working 20 hours a week.

 

I think you are doing worse by being dismissive of her comments. Your comments are just meaningless words meant to stop her from expressing herself. You can't be dismissive because you don't like what is said.

Is that a racial jab? I feel like anyone could fit the demo of a CC student. I earned a CC degree, but I'm Black so I guess I fit that mold you cast.

Amen! It's nice to see common sense in people. Those who have it, seem to be those who had to work twice as hard as everyone else.

 

I dont see how working 20 hrs per week can be seen as an issue? Many CC's are offering fully online programs now, and in-state tuition rates can still be fairly low. At least out here in Maricopa County AZ it's only $86 per credit hour. With all the federal grants you can get, going to a local CC shouldn't be a financial challenge for most people.

Like most things in life, it comes down to your personal drive and commitment toward achieving your goals. We have a growing culture of participating is winning throughout grade school. When these kids hit the real world many are just not prepared for the reality of the situation. I know I wasn't ready for college after high school. It took me about a dozen years of working full time before I was in the right place mentally to go to school. Now I find school (online) rewarding, and not at all overwhelming while working full time, and having a family.

 

The regulars, sure, because we have degrees already for the most part. However, I teach at a community college, and the demographics range from 13th graders to students older than I am (51), and everything possible in-between.

 

The article isn't about whining or creating sympathy but about a problem that does exist, the cost of higher education. For instance, but a few hops and skips from your CIA is Dutchess Community College where dormitories were added against the wishes of pretty much everyone. Dormitories at a community college serving but one small county.

The problem is real. Our schools are serving every purpose but education.

 

I call BS on this story!

 

Because...

 

Yes, the problem is real but your next statement is so wildly inaccurate, hyperbolic and inflammatory as to take away all benefit from everything else you said.

 

Community College in my State is less than $100/credit. Way cheap.

I went to a University and had 3 jobs (60 hrs. week) for 5.33 years.

No will = no way!

 

Well, I'd not have made the statement if I'd known it would induce hysteria.