Know the Facts: Community College
Community colleges are an awesome resource for students in our communities. Offering free tuition for the first two years to those who go full time, they are a low-cost way to receive an AA degree and transfer to a 4-year college. They are also great for taking dual enrollment courses while in high school to earn college credits before even starting college. But it’s important to select your college knowing all the statistics surrounding them, and go into any college choice with eyes wide open.
Here at the High School Insider Blog, we want you to be aware of the completion data for whatever school you choose to attend, and together we will look specifically at the data on community colleges.
You know community colleges are tuition-free for the first two years, they’re close to home, perhaps allowing you to work while you attend college. They can help you complete general education requirements before transferring to a 4-year college. So why wouldn’t everyone just choose community colleges over 4-year colleges and universities?
Completion rates
In 2013, only 26.2% of all students who entered community colleges in California received an AA degree in 3 years. For Latino/Hispanic and Black students, the outcomes were worse, 19.8% and 13.1% respectively. At Santa Monica College, one of the local community colleges well-regarded for its talented faculty and strong rates of transfer, only 11.9% of students completed their AA degree in 2 years, and 30.2% finished in 3. At Los Angeles City College, only 13.9% of students finished the two year program in three years. (All data from The Chronicle of Higher Education, where you can and should check out the completion rates of any school you are considering). At UCLA, on the other hand, More than 78 percent of students entering as freshmen graduate within four years, more than 90 percent graduate within six years. If you look at college as a numbers game, you are 244% more likely to finish UCLA within six years than you are to finish the average California community college in 3 years.
Transfer rates
In California, only 40% of community college students who seek four-year degrees are successful in transferring to one of the state's four-year universities (CSU or UC). You could very well be one of those 40%-statistics are not destiny. But, again, if we’re playing the odds, and you are entering a community college expecting to transfer, the statistical likelihood of it happening is 40%. That’s compared to USC’s 92% 6-year graduation rate in 2019. Completion rates of California State University system is also something to look into when making a college choice. California State University Los Angeles has a 6-year graduation rate of 35.7%. While lower than the chances of transferring from a community college to a UC or CSU, it’s the difference between an AA degree and a bachelor’s degree.
Making Community College Work for You
Even after learning these statistics, you still may see community college as the best option for you, or you may be currently enrolled in community college, which is great! Just make it work for you. While many community colleges have excellent programs in place to support students and help create cohorts, they are also commuter schools, so finding a group to study and hang out with can be more of a challenge than in a 4-year college or university. If you do choose community college, do your best to find that group to help you thrive and be successful (joining clubs on campus can help with this). Also, find an advisor right away to ensure you are taking the right classes and have your transfer plan mapped out. Take a full-time load of courses to ensure you will get free tuition but also so you can finish in 2 years and transfer!
Community colleges can be a great option, but you must go into them with eyes wide open to the data so that you can make an informed decision about where you will flourish and ultimately earn your degree. Good luck in your path and choose what is best for you! In future blog posts, we will look at how to ensure success in whatever type of college you select.
Jesse Noonan, Chief Academic Officer