Elementary school, middle school, high school, university. This structure is ingrained in every student by parents, educators and employers. However, this is not a “one-size-fits-all” system, as many students are pushed to go to university even when they’re not ready, which ends up doing more harm than good for their future prospects. But an inexpensive, low-risk option is available: community college. The stigma that community college provides inadequate education is just that—stigma.
Going from high school to college is a huge leap for many students as they must suddenly learn to support themselves while taking challenging university courses. Some are not ready to bear these new responsibilities and need additional support from family or others. Small local colleges allow students to live close to home in case of emergency and give them more time to adjust to college living, especially since many community colleges have more flexible schedules.
Many lower-income students may think that they do not have the option of pursuing a higher education due to other obligations. However, accommodating schedules at these community colleges can provide students who may have responsibilities outside of school an avenue in which they can succeed. Richard Montgomery High School junior Lynna Deng said, “the flexibility that comes with community college would be beneficial to the people who need to hold a full time job as well. It’s a valuable way to be in school while also getting real work experience.” According to Forbes, a plurality of first-generation students and those from lower-income households who earn bachelor’s degrees do so by starting out at a community college.
Financial liabilities may be one of the biggest deterrents from universities, with a staggering total of 1.7 trillion dollars in student loan debt in America. Yet, students are led to believe they only have two options: spend tens of thousands at a university or not go to college at all. RM senior Jerry Shen said, “I got hooked into the trap of top schools and thinking that ‘oh you have to go to these top schools to be really successful’ and that’s the mindset that a lot of seniors and a lot of high schoolers take on when applying to college.” However, community college presents a third option that is both inexpensive and convenient. If a student does not want to have the burden of student loan debt, they can opt for getting a degree at a local college.
A fair portion of student loan debt is due to young adults choosing degrees that they are not truly interested in but for the sake of getting them, only to end up dropping out. At 18 years old, not everyone knows what they want to do for the rest of their life. According to Educationdata, nearly 30% of freshmen drop out in their first year, and the cost of dropping out of college measured by lost earnings is $3.8 billion in a single year. This is a high price to pay for something that could have been easily avoidable. Not only is it a waste of money, but it is also a waste of time that could have been spent actually figuring out what the student is interested in.
Community college provides the perfect circumstances for students still not settled in their potential career aspirations. According to USNews, on average community colleges only cost around $3,500 per year for instate students compared to the absurd upwards of $10,000 for state colleges and $35,000 per year for private universities. With a low cost risk, students have more freedom in trying out different classes and disciplines to discover what they’re truly passionate about. It can also serve as a trial run for students who are unsure if college is right for them in the first place, or if they should concentrate their efforts on a different venture. “After a student goes to community college to see what it’s like, they can decide whether they want to pursue further education or stop where they’re at and continue into the workforce,” Shen said.
For every one student admitted into their dream school, another is rejected. However, regardless of past failures, there are students who still strive to get into their dream school and take gap years to strengthen their application. During this time, community college can be seen as an extension of high school. Students can opt for a two-year college and take classes they believe will fulfill the credits and requirements in reaching their goals. Deng said, “I could definitely see myself getting an associate’s degree if the world continues to flounder and then transfer to a four year degree.”
Even so, the stigma that surrounds community college mainly originates from the belief that they are not as prestigious or have as high-quality facilities as established universities. However, this is no longer the case as an increasing number of community colleges are expanding to encompass four-year long programs and provide more opportunities. Community colleges are smaller and can provide each individual with personalized attention. Many are also introducing networking connections through partnerships with local companies. RM senior Danesh Sivakumar said, “It’s not that one is objectively better than the other, it all depends on what your motivations are and your purposes are.”
As community colleges begin to look more and more like the typical American college experience, there is less and less reason for students not to consider it as a serious choice. Although it is definitely a deviation from the norm as it stands now, it doesn’t have to be. World-renowned ivy-level colleges are not what community colleges should look like, but rather community colleges are a model of what all higher education in the US should look like.
Article by Athira Nair of Richard Montgomery High School
Photo by Ashley Neyra of Watkins Mill High School