Community Colleges: Debunking the Myths

People always view community colleges as the “easy way out” because of their minimal requirements, open enrollment, and choices of introductory and remedial course alternatives. People often feel that the experience community colleges offer is not precisely academically meticulous or challenging enough. There are also several other myths about community colleges that still exist today.

1. Community college students are older compared to those in universities.

When compared to the average age of a university student, which is currently 21, it’s evident that many community college students are indeed older. However, as the years progress, the average age has been decreasing. According to The Atlantic, community college students aged 18 to 24 accounted for 47 percent of all students in 1995. That percentage was 54 percent in 2009. Today, that number is undoubtedly larger. As dual enrollment courses for high school kids grow more popular, the number of under-18 students attending community colleges has risen dramatically. In 1993, only 1.7 percent of community college students were under 18, but by 2009, that number had increased to 3.7 percent.

2. There aren’t many majors available at community colleges.

This myth was disproven decades ago. Community colleges didn’t have much to offer other than a few liberal arts degrees and occupational certificates in the past. Today, however, things are very different. Community colleges fill a gap in employment preparation that is constantly changing as the economy shifts. Jobs in technology, medical, green industry, and energy exploration fields are plentiful. Community colleges around the country have done an excellent job of designing degree and certificate programs to equip students to fill vacancies in these fields.

Furthermore, community colleges have extended the number of academic majors available to satisfy the demands of students wishing to transfer to a four-year institution. According to the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center, 60% of transfer students earn a bachelor’s degree. If community colleges did not provide a broader range of majors, this would not be conceivable.

3. Four-year colleges turn down most students in community colleges.

Perhaps the most widespread misconception regarding community college students is that they are there out of need rather than choice. Some people believe that four-year universities’ stricter entrance requirements are simply too much for “some students,” so they should study at community colleges rather than push themselves to attend a nearby four-year college. While the academic requirement is a factor in some students’ decision to attend a community college, the cost-effectiveness of the institution is another primary factor.

A university education costs nearly three times as much per year as a two-year school. With many 21st-century jobs requiring only an associate’s degree and increasingly smooth and simple transfer procedures from community colleges to universities, finishing the first two years in a two-year institution is an intelligent financial choice. Many students can complete an associate’s degree or equivalent professional credential with little or no debt, thanks to community college scheduling and the availability of scholarships and grants. As a result, attending a two-year institution is a wise financial decision for most people rather than a last resort because of underperforming high school grades or low standardized test scores.

4. Professors at community colleges are “second-rate.”

Professors in community colleges have a different educational background than those at universities. Two-thirds of teachers at two-year colleges hold a master’s degree, while one-fifth hold a doctorate, compared to 80 percent of university professors. While community colleges have fewer professors with a Ph.D. or other terminal degrees than four-year institutions, teaching is the primary focus of two-year institutions. Professors teach classes with real-world expertise. Professors at the university level, on the other hand, frequently have obligations other than teaching, such as research and publication. As a result, teaching assistants or graduate students, rather than the professor of record, teach some classes at four-year institutions.

Meanwhile, community college professors are more likely to work with students individually. Students and teachers have more opportunities to interact when class numbers are smaller. A university professor teaching a freshman-level course with hundreds of students is less likely to know their students individually, their needs, and their academic ability. Individualized attention determines a student’s success or failure.

These myths exist primarily because of a lack of accurate information, especially on university campuses. However, it is up to us to educate ourselves if we’re interested in learning more about community colleges. If you need help choosing the right university or community college for you, contact us right away, and we can help you here at Haddee!

Originally published May 27, 2022.