May 19, 2021
In most economic downturns in the US , enrollment in community college goes up. But the reverse has happened during the pandemic.
Spring enrollment in two-year associate degree and in shorter certificate programs dropped year-over-year 10.9% and 7.4%, respectively, according to data from the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center. Meanwhile, enrollment in bachelor’s degree programs, which are typically four years, dropped 2%. Even as the pandemic abates, community colleges still continue to report declines.
Will Biden’s bill efforts reverse the decline?
Under the $1.8 trillion American Families Plan, Biden had proposed two years of free tuition at community college, and not at four-year degree schools, despite pressure from the left to make college free for all. The bill proposes investing $109 billion for two-year colleges, $62 billion to strengthen retention and completion efforts, and $39 billion for two free years at minority-serving institutions for most students. It would also spend $80 billion for need-based-scholarships called Pell Grants to increase the maximum grant by about $1,400 (the maximum amount in 2020 was $6,345).