College enrollment up, mostly at 2-year schools
Some are there because of the recession, and others despite it.
Regardless, more young Americans than ever are in college - especially community college, according to a new report.
A record high of about 11.5 million Americans age 18 to 24, or nearly 40 percent, attended college in October 2008, according to a study of Census data released Thursday by the Pew Research Center.
Virtually all the increase of 300,000 students over the previous year came at two-year schools, while attendance at four-year schools remained flat.
Community colleges almost certainly saw attendance go up at least that much again this year, though final figures are not yet available.
The American Association of Community Colleges reports growth rates of 10 percent and higher have been common this fall on many campuses.
The same can be said for Chaffey College in Rancho Cucamonga, which saw a 10.3 percent increase, and San Bernardino Valley College in San Bernardino, which saw a 10 percent increase in enrollment from fall 2008.
According to Chaffey College's Fall 2009 First Census Enrollment Report, 22,050 students were actively enrolled in one or more credit and/or non-credit courses in the district, the most in Chaffey's 126 year history and a 5.7 percent increase over fall 2008.
"Growth appears to be fueled almost entirely by students 29 years of age or younger, primarily by students 19 years of age or younger. Enrollment declines were observed among students 30 years of age or older," said Jim Fillpot, Chaffey's director of institutional research.
Overall college attendance has been going up for about 30 years; what's new is the sharp uptick at community colleges, driven in large part by recessionary bargain hunting and closer ties between two- and four-year colleges that give students more confidence they'll be able to transfer.
However, as a result of the budget cuts and long-standing over-enrollment, California State Universities are working toward reducing their statewide enrollment by 40,000 over two years.
High unemployment, a shaky economy and CSU's system raising fees and limiting enrollment, because of budget reasons, is a perfect storm for people to look to education, primarily community colleges, to take a new direction in life, said Craig Petinak, spokesman for Valley College.
"People want to preprare themselves to become more marketable when the economy comes back," Petinak said. "We've also seen employers come back to school to train themselves in skills to in order to keep their jobs, or to keep from being left out."
Last year, nearly 12 percent of all 18- to 24-year-olds, or 3.4 million, were enrolled in community colleges, up from 10.9 percent the year before.
The relative economic advantages of at least starting a degree at a community college have widened as prices at four-year colleges have shot up much faster.
Average tuition and fees at public two-year colleges ran just $2,372 this year, according to a study released last week by the College Board, compared to $7,020 at public four-year colleges and more than $26,000 at private ones.
Once government grants and other aid are factored in, community colleges are essentially tuition-free to the average student, though living expenses and books remain.
Richard Fry, the report's author, said another factor behind community college growth is the steadily increasing proportion of young adults who have completed high school, which hit a record high of nearly 85 percent last October.
That means more students are eligible to pursue higher education, but most of the growth is coming from students whose academic qualifications make them more likely to start at two-year school.
While it's good news more students are enrolled in college, the Census figures say nothing about whether overcrowded two-year institutions will succeed in getting students the credentials they seek or helping them transfer to bachelor's degree programs.
Many are bursting at the seams, cutting some courses to meet budgets and holding others late at night. It's impossible to say how many have been turned away for lack of space (California estimates about 200,000 in that state alone).
President Barack Obama has made community colleges the centerpiece of his goal for every American to have at least some higher education credential by 2020, and earlier this year proposed spending $12 billion over the next decade to help community colleges graduate an additional 5 million people.
The House responded last month by passing a student aid bill that included about $10 billion in initiatives directly focused on community colleges. The Senate has not yet taken up the proposal.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Regardless, more young Americans than ever are in college - especially community college, according to a new report.
A record high of about 11.5 million Americans age 18 to 24, or nearly 40 percent, attended college in October 2008, according to a study of Census data released Thursday by the Pew Research Center.
Virtually all the increase of 300,000 students over the previous year came at two-year schools, while attendance at four-year schools remained flat.
Community colleges almost certainly saw attendance go up at least that much again this year, though final figures are not yet available.
The American Association of Community Colleges reports growth rates of 10 percent and higher have been common this fall on many campuses.
The same can be said for Chaffey College in Rancho Cucamonga, which saw a 10.3 percent increase, and San Bernardino Valley College in San Bernardino, which saw a 10 percent increase in enrollment from fall 2008.
According to Chaffey College's Fall 2009 First Census Enrollment Report, 22,050 students were actively enrolled in one or more credit and/or non-credit courses in the district, the most in Chaffey's 126 year history and a 5.7 percent increase over fall 2008.
"Growth appears to be fueled almost entirely by students 29 years of age or younger, primarily by students 19 years of age or younger. Enrollment declines were observed among students 30 years of age or older," said Jim Fillpot, Chaffey's director of institutional research.
Overall college attendance has been going up for about 30 years; what's new is the sharp uptick at community colleges, driven in large part by recessionary bargain hunting and closer ties between two- and four-year colleges that give students more confidence they'll be able to transfer.
However, as a result of the budget cuts and long-standing over-enrollment, California State Universities are working toward reducing their statewide enrollment by 40,000 over two years.
High unemployment, a shaky economy and CSU's system raising fees and limiting enrollment, because of budget reasons, is a perfect storm for people to look to education, primarily community colleges, to take a new direction in life, said Craig Petinak, spokesman for Valley College.
"People want to preprare themselves to become more marketable when the economy comes back," Petinak said. "We've also seen employers come back to school to train themselves in skills to in order to keep their jobs, or to keep from being left out."
Last year, nearly 12 percent of all 18- to 24-year-olds, or 3.4 million, were enrolled in community colleges, up from 10.9 percent the year before.
The relative economic advantages of at least starting a degree at a community college have widened as prices at four-year colleges have shot up much faster.
Average tuition and fees at public two-year colleges ran just $2,372 this year, according to a study released last week by the College Board, compared to $7,020 at public four-year colleges and more than $26,000 at private ones.
Once government grants and other aid are factored in, community colleges are essentially tuition-free to the average student, though living expenses and books remain.
Richard Fry, the report's author, said another factor behind community college growth is the steadily increasing proportion of young adults who have completed high school, which hit a record high of nearly 85 percent last October.
That means more students are eligible to pursue higher education, but most of the growth is coming from students whose academic qualifications make them more likely to start at two-year school.
While it's good news more students are enrolled in college, the Census figures say nothing about whether overcrowded two-year institutions will succeed in getting students the credentials they seek or helping them transfer to bachelor's degree programs.
Many are bursting at the seams, cutting some courses to meet budgets and holding others late at night. It's impossible to say how many have been turned away for lack of space (California estimates about 200,000 in that state alone).
President Barack Obama has made community colleges the centerpiece of his goal for every American to have at least some higher education credential by 2020, and earlier this year proposed spending $12 billion over the next decade to help community colleges graduate an additional 5 million people.
The House responded last month by passing a student aid bill that included about $10 billion in initiatives directly focused on community colleges. The Senate has not yet taken up the proposal.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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