Why Community College

After several years of exponential growth seen at community colleges nationwide, that trend finally appears to wane. Some attribute enrollment declines to an improving economy, while others cite changes in federal legislation as potential reasons. No matter the underlying cause of the shrinking numbers, one thing is certain: the community college flurry that occurred during the recent economic slowdown appears to be stabilizing.

Fewer Community College Students in Oklahoma this Year

Oklahoma is just one of many states seeing fewer community college students head to class this fall. According to a report at News OK, most of the community colleges throughout Oklahoma report enrollment drops as the academic year gets underway. During the past decade, enrollment in the state’s colleges increased from around 88,000 students in 2000 to more than 117,000 by 2010. Much of that growth – around 16,000 students – occurred during 2009 and 2010, the years of economic recession across the country.

College officials suspect the enrollment drop could be attributed to a number of factors, including an improved economy and changes to federal financial aid programs. When the economy slowed, and unemployment increased, many displaced workers returned to school to retrain for new industries that were still hiring workers. As unemployment gradually stabilizes, many are now back to work and no longer in need of additional training at this time.

This video from ABC News reports on the declining enrollments in the nation's community colleges.

Placement tests have traditionally been used by community colleges nationwide to determine whether recent high school graduates are prepared for the rigors of college coursework. The results of these examinations have landed many incoming college freshmen into remedial or “developmental” classes designed to bring their academic skills up to par before embarking on more challenging college-level classes. However, recent evidence suggests that those remedial classes may have a much larger – and negative – influence on college completion rates overall. Additional research has shown that these placement examinations may not even be the most accurate assessment of college readiness for the majority of students today.

College Placement Exams Study: Other Measurements More Accurate?

A new study from Achieving the Dream, a non-profit organization, was created to improve community college outcomes for low-income students. The study, titled “Where to Begin? The Evolving Role of Placement Exams for Students Starting College,” found that tests commonly used by colleges to determine incoming student placement may be inaccurate and create hurdles to student success in college. The study found that other factors, including high school grades, may be better measures of success.

The study looked at students from the Long Beach Unified School District who attended Long Beach City College after high school. The study found that ninety percent of the students had to take five semesters or more of remedial classes before starting their college coursework. The study also found that if the

Students attend community college for a variety of reasons – to raise their GPAs, save money or explore a variety of liberal arts courses in preparation for choosing a major. Those who have been in the workforce for some time may head back to a community college for additional training or re-training in a different career. No matter your reasons for attending community college, these ten tips will help you make the most of that experience, both during your time at community college and in the goals you might hope to achieve afterward.

Choose Your Classes Wisely

Doing well in community college classes is important, but doing well in the right classes is critical for students looking to transfer to a four-year institution in two years. While advisors can help students make good class choices, there are also some general rules of thumb to follow when creating your community college course list.

“Students should think about what sort of classes they’re taking,” Kate Lazzo, assistant director of admission at Stanford University, told USA Today. “They should focus in on the area they intend to major in, but shouldn’t do so at the expense of a broad liberal arts education.”

This video offers an overview of Alabama community colleges.

Make the Grades

Grade point averages are important for community college students to focus on, whether they are heading to another institution after completing

Veterans struggling to find full-time employment now have another service at their disposal. The Veterans Retraining Assistance Program (VRAP) was originally created as part of the 2011 VOW to Hire Heroes Act, and it helped veterans receive training in a variety of high-demand industries through local trade schools and community colleges. While the original VRAP initiative has expired, veterans in 2026 can still access expanded workforce training opportunities through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, the GI Bill, and the Veteran Rapid Retraining Assistance Program.

What is VOW and VRAP?

According to the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, the Veterans Opportunity to Work (VOW) to Hire Heroes Act of 2011 was designed to offer a smoother transition to veterans exiting military service and preparing to work in the private sector. The program was signed into law by President Obama and funded by the Department of Veterans Affairs. The Veterans Retraining Assistance Program was created through a joint effort between the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Labor.

As originally structured, VRAP trained more than 99,000 veterans for high-demand jobs through technical schools and community colleges nationwide. Today, workforce retraining remains a major focus at community colleges, many of which continue expanding short-term credential and career certification programs for veterans and adult learners. Community colleges have increasingly partnered with regional employers to provide workforce-aligned training in health care, information technology, manufacturing, logistics, and skilled trades.

Recent reporting from Community College Review

Education is frequently touted as the great equalizer in today’s society, but a number of educators are now suggesting the education system may not be doing its job in effectively reducing disparities. Recent studies also seem to support these claims, offering evidence in the form of standardized test scores and college completion rates that suggest all things may not be created equal in the world of academia today. Does higher education at community colleges perpetuate this inequality, or is it the solution today’s society needs to reduce concerning disparities? The answer to that question may be yes on both counts.

In this video, Dr. Pedro Noguera discusses the role of community colleges in reducing racial inequality in education.

Colleges Increasing Access, Not Completion Rates

Inequality does not appear to be a result of restricted access to higher education opportunities. Since the recession, students have been heading to institutions of higher education in droves, whether to train for a new career or launch a successful field of study right out of high school. The increased enrollment at community colleges, in particular, has broadened the field to students from all economic and cultural backgrounds, guaranteeing a more diverse student body at many institutions across the country.

Unfortunately, the increased access to community colleges does not necessarily lead to higher completion rates. In fact, graduation rates at many community colleges are downright dismal – with