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

Tuition for our school.....Tuition Cost Fall 2016 - Houston Community College | HCC

 

I'm not sure that statement is true either.:indifferent:

 

I agree with the bolded portion to an extent, but then why focus exclusively on community colleges in the article? Why not focus on higher education in general? Is it some kind of means of implying "if community colleges are too expensive, you KNOW we're in trouble..."?

 

Around here, people shriek like banshees whenever community colleges raise their fees. But they are still extraordinarily affordable educational bargains for in-state students, in my opinion. Here's the fees at one near me:

https://www.deanza.edu/registration/cashier/fees.html

$31/unit x 12 units (a typical full load) = $372 a quarter. That's $1,116 a year (3 quarters). It would be less if you attend part time.

They have a job listing board that advertises part-time jobs nearby. There are also tuition waivers for some students from low-income families.

The real financial difficulty that community-college students face around here isn't their college tuition and fees, it's the astronomical rents in silicon valley.

 

Because the topic is community colleges.

 

then you and I will have to agree to disagree.
Anytime someone complains and in the next sentence doesn't offer an idea or solution, I call that whining.

The article suggests making community college free. LOL. Let's make everything free. Oh wait, that's not an ACTUAL idea or solution.
The article warns that "And the high cost of college may mean that they’re too burdened by debt to buy homes or make other big purchases." and they are talking about COMMUNITY COLLEGE. So, let's be clear - we want people who can't afford community college to borrow money for a house? That's a plan? Broke people shouldn't be borrowing money.

I don't complain without offering solutions. So, here ya go folks:

1. Poor-enough people should attend colleges where their Pell Grant pays 100% of tuition with overage for books and fees. (less than $200/credit)

2. Students should price shop college credit costs, and choose the best degree for the lowest price that meets the needs of their field.

3. If you want a brand name college degree, do it without borrowing.

4. If you have to borrow, attend the lowest price program that meets the needs for your field.

5. Make sure your degree prepares you to support yourself financially.

6. Buy used textbooks.

7. Work for an employer that pays your tuition.

8. Use Tuition Assistance or your GI Bill

9. Attend college in one of the many free colleges in the USA

10. Attend college in one of the many free countries.

11. Take longer so you can pay cash.

12. Don't go to college as a teenager unless you have both a solid career goal and a fully funded plan.

13. If you have been given a college fund by your parents, hold that money and use it for the 300/400 level courses at your 4-year school or grad school. Don't squander it on lower level credit - ever!

14. Take advantage of FREE dual enrollment available to high schoolers in many states.

15. If your high school doesn't have free dual enrollment, pay the tuition price. This spreads the cost out over more years, making it more affordable.

16. If your high school doesn't have any dual enrollment option at all, take AP courses and pass AP exams - these are potentially worth a lot of credit.

17. If you can't do dual enrollment or AP, take CLEP exams over the summers. Taking 2 exams each summer in high school is equal to about 1 year of college credit.

18. If all else fails, apply for scholarships. Be careful of scholarships that are marketing attempts to boost enrollment and entice students into borrowing!

19. Don't attend out of state college.

20. Attend community college first, and transfer into your state school WHENEVER your state has articulation agreements in place.

21. Hang out on Degree Info and read about everyone who works AND attends college via distance learning....like it ain't no thang.

22. Visit InstantCert and read about everyone testing out of huge chunks of credit and or earning entire accredited degrees from home in about 2 years and under 10k.

23.

24.

25.

Someone else can come up with 3 more, I'm making Blackberry tarts and my pastry cream is ready.

 

NM in-district resident
•Maximum cost for twelve (12) hours or more: $420.00
•Cost per hour for one through eleven hours: $35.00

Out-of-state resident
•Maximum cost for twelve (12) hours or more: $744.00
•Cost per hour for one through eleven hours: $62.00
Tuition and Fees - New Mexico Junior College

 

I just want the blackberry tarts. Trade you for some of my comb honey.

 

I've never been in the military so I might not be the best person to say this but joining the military might be the single smartest way to pay for your college education.

 

In many ways it is. The biggest knock I can think of is that it can take several years longer then the standard 4, 6, or 8 year traditional paths kids take fresh out of high school. That could also be looked at in a positive light if you consider your military experience as actively building a resume with job contacts that your degree will support upon separation.

 

An easier way could be to take advantage of a state merit-based scholarship (which most states offer) coming out of high school. These don't always cover full tuition, but do cover a significant portion while also serving as an incentive to keep grades up.

 

Oregon is doing FREE Community College this year for HS kids (illegals also). Everyone else pays. The 2.5% official graduation rate in two years and 10% in 3 years will get worse!