Getting Started

Introduction

When many parents and students think of “college,” they envision four-year institutions, Ivy League or elite private schools. But for a growing number of high school graduates from private schools, community college offers a pragmatic, strategic, and often unexpected pathway. In 2025, the narrative of “private school → elite university” is evolving. This article explores stories and lessons from private school alumni going to community college, offering insights for prospective students, parents, and educators alike.

Why Private School Students Choose Community College

Cost-efficiency and reduced debt

Even among families paying high private school tuition, the burden of college debt looms large. Community colleges offer significantly lower tuition and flexible options for general education, allowing students to preserve family resources for later years when specialization begins.

Academic reboot or smoother transition

Some students arrive at private school graduation unprepared—or overwhelmed by more rigorous curriculum or social expectations. Community college can serve as a reset: smaller classes, more hands-on support, and the opportunity to build confidence before pursuing a four-year degree.

Strategic transfer planning

Many community colleges now partner with four-year institutions for seamless transfer. Proven students often receive guaranteed admission or junior standing at partner universities. (See, for example, pipelines developed by elite universities to recruit community college transfers.)

Flexibility and personal circumstances

For those who want to stay close to home, work part-time, or balance family responsibilities, community college offers modular scheduling, evening classes,

Why Private K–12 Families Should Understand Community College Options

For many families investing in private K–12 education, the path beyond high school seems narrowly defined: the student will look toward four-year colleges or universities. But increasingly, community colleges play a pivotal—and underappreciated—role in shaping flexible, cost-sensitive, and student-centered postsecondary journeys. Private school families should understand community college options because they can enrich academic planning, reduce costs, broaden access, and provide strategic flexibility in a fast-evolving higher education landscape.

Below, we explore the key reasons, challenges, and best practices for integrating community college into private K–12 planning.

1. Strategic Cost Savings & Financial Flexibility

Lower Cost per Credit Hour

Community colleges typically charge significantly lower tuition and fees than four-year institutions. Students can complete general education or prerequisite courses at reduced cost, then transfer to a bachelor’s program to finish. For families seeking to contain postsecondary expenses, this “2 + 2” pathway can yield substantial savings.

Dual Enrollment & Early Credit

Many K–12 students—particularly in upper grades—can take dual enrollment or concurrent courses at community colleges, earning college credit while still in high school. This accelerates progress and may reduce future semesters of full-cost enrollment.

Buffer Against Changing Plans

Should a student’s interests shift, or if a more selective four-year college doesn’t accept them, the credits earned at a community college still hold value. This flexibility can protect against lost time and wasted tuition.

Financial Aid

Why Private-School Families Should Consider a Community College Start

For families accustomed to the private school environment—smaller class sizes, rigorous college-preparatory curricula and significant tuition investment—the idea of beginning the post-secondary journey at a community college often seems counter-intuitive. Yet in 2025, as higher education costs continue to rise and student-pathways diversify, there are compelling reasons why private-school families should seriously consider a start at a community college.

1. Cost Savings & Financial Flexibility

One of the clearest advantages of starting at a community college is reduced cost per credit hour. Many community colleges charge significantly less than four-year institutions. For students who intend eventually to transfer to a bachelor‐granting institution, beginning with lower‐cost general education courses can ease financial pressure.

Beyond tuition, living at home or commuting locally can reduce room and board expenses in early years, offering families the chance to reallocate resources (for example toward extracurriculars, internships or higher‐level courses) rather than defaulting into full‐residential four-year cost. psecu.com

Furthermore, for families used to committing to private K–12 tuition, the shift in mindset from “high tuition, high cost” to “net cost, strategic choice” is important. As one guide explains: “For private-school families, the net cost mindset matters: what is my cost after grants?”

2. Academic & Support Advantages

Another key reason is strong academic support and flexibility. Community colleges often provide smaller or more personalized foundational classes compared to

Dual Enrollment: Earning College Credit in High School

The opportunity for high school students to earn college credit through a dual enrollment program is more vigorous than ever in 2025. At its core, dual enrollment allows students to take college-level coursework while still enrolled in high school, thereby accelerating their postsecondary journey, reducing tuition costs and clarifying career pathways. This article updates the discussion around dual enrollment with the latest data, policy shifts, tuition trends, demographic considerations and practical insights for parents, students and educators.

What is Dual Enrollment?

Dual enrollment refers to arrangements between high schools and colleges—often community colleges—whereby eligible high school students take for-credit college courses. These may occur on high school campuses, college campuses or online. Students earn both high school and college credit simultaneously. The arrangement is distinct, though sometimes overlapping, with advanced placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) classes, in that the credit is granted by a postsecondary institution rather than through standardized exams alone.

Why It Matters

For students and families, dual enrollment offers several concrete advantages:

• Head start on college: By earning credit early, students may shorten time to degree, save money and reduce debt.

• College readiness: Exposure to college-level work builds confidence and clarity regarding academic expectations. Research shows students who are dual enrolled are more likely to enroll in college and complete credentials.

• Cost savings: Many

Community Colleges Are Changing Strategies to Increase Enrollment (2025 Update)

Community colleges once viewed as the fallback option are stepping into the spotlight—reimagining how they recruit, retain, and serve students. In 2025, they are adopting new strategies informed by shifting demographics, funding pressures, evolving workforce demands, and technological innovation. Below is a refreshed look at how community colleges are changing strategies to increase enrollment, drawing on the latest data, examples, and expert insights.

Enrollment Trends in 2025: A Turning Tide?

After years of post-pandemic uncertainty and decline, community college enrollment is showing signs of recovery and renewed momentum. In spring 2025, total postsecondary enrollment rose 3.2 percent year over year, adding 562,000 students, with community colleges leading growth among undergraduate institutions.

From fall 2023 to fall 2024, community colleges saw a 3.9 percent increase in headcount, reaching about 10.5 million students, including both credit and noncredit enrollment. In many states, community colleges outpaced even four-year institutions: for example, North Carolina’s two-year colleges grew by 8.3 percent in spring 2025.

Moreover, transfer enrollment has surged: community colleges reported a 5.8 percent year-over-year increase in transfers, with 13.5 percent more transfer students than in 2020. Freshman enrollment at community colleges also outpaced other sectors, climbing 7 percent in 2024.

Still, the overall snapshot remains modest: undergraduate enrollment is about 2–3 percent below pre-pandemic levels overall, signaling that recovery is underway but not