Community college tuition averaged $3,860 last year, far cheaper than four-year schools. Advocates for them claim they serve the students who need the most support but without the money to provide it. But according to Jon Marcus, writer for AP News, consumers are abandoning them. The number of students at community colleges has dropped 37% since 2010, says the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center. These numbers also include high school dual-enrollment courses which make up nearly a fifth of community college enrollment.

This decrease in community college enrollment follows an emphasis on a university education and drop in employers’ perceived quality of the schools. This may be connected to their lack of government spending compared to public universities—an almost $10,000 average difference—but many say community colleges can’t just blame their budget.

**Photo Link**