The stigma surrounding community college is changing for the better, but there is still a vast misunderstanding of the truth.
The Higher Education for American Democracy, better known as the 1947 Truman Commission Report, brought many remarkable changes to post-secondary education in the United States. Among these changes came the establishment of public community colleges, which would have affordable tuition allowing for accessible post-secondary education. The United States now has 1,100 two-year colleges. In Michigan, we have the Community College Guarantee, where attendance is free for the first two years for Michigan residents who complete the FAFSA.
The bulk of the stigma surrounding community college is born from lack of familiarity on the subject. Many people believe that community college provides a lesser valued education and student life because of its low price tag. That is untrue, as community colleges offer equally as many clubs and student opportunities as four-year universities. Some even offer dormitory housing.
It is also commonly believed that community colleges are last resort options for high-school graduates, that you only attend if you are “not smart enough” to get into a four-year college. Many people choose to go to a community college over a four-year university to save money, be independent, or simply because they understand that they will be more successful in that particular learning environment. Take into account Malcolm Gladwell’s “big fish in a small pond” example. It is proven that people ranked at the top of their class at a community college or less prestigious school have a more successful outcome after graduation than those who were ranked lower at universities like Harvard or Yale. It is better to be a big fish in a small pond than a small fish in a big pond.
Thursday, January 9th, 2025 I conducted an interview with Dr. Steve Robinson, president of Lansing Community College and founder of the #EndCCStigma social media campaign, about the stigmas associated with attending community college. In regards to why someone should choose community college, Dr. Robinson explains, “Let’s say somebody’s got two resumes next to each other and they both graduated from the University of Michigan, but one of those two students did their first two years at a community college. I can see looking at that resume and being more interested in that person [the student who attended community college] because they’re a self-starter, they were in a more diverse learning environment.”
There are so many reasons to choose community college. At community colleges, there is a lot of diversity in the student body. There are people that come right out of high school and returning adults, everyone there with the same goal of expanding their education. Not only are you with four-year degree-seeking students, you are also with people that want to pursue careers in the trades, or get vocational, technical, and even job training. You learn with people from all different backgrounds, cultures, and social classes. In addition to the diverse group of students, there are also smaller class sizes, allowing for a more individualized education experience and more support from well-qualified professors. While at a four-year university most of your professors will be graduate students at that school, community college professors are college graduates with an undeniable passion for teaching and more time to hone their craft. If you are seeking a bachelor’s degree, community college is an excellent place to start. Dr. Robinson says, “I have a dream, a kind of vision where even if what you want is a bachelor’s degree you start out at a community college.”
Even with all of the benefits in mind, at the end of the day, community college is not the right choice for everyone. College is a very personal experience, and it needs to align with your goals; you need to be in an engaging environment where you believe you will get the best education. However, if you’re unsure of where to start, community college is a great beginning.
