Facing a continued trend in decreased enrollment and rising tuition costs, local community colleges are committed to remaining an affordable source of post-secondary education.
While student enrollment was down by 1.3 percent, or 153 students, last spring at Montgomery County Community College, MCCC President Karen A. Stout said the change wasn’t an unexpected one.
“We planned budget-wise for a 3 percent decrease. So, we’re doing well as compared to our overall budget,” she said.
As the cost of education has gone up, tuition and fees have increased over the years.
“We’ve had a lot of restrictions with state and county funding, so most of the burden falls on the institution,” said Stout.
Last year, tuition was increased by 3.2 percent. The year before that, it was increased by 11.61 percent. And three years ago, it went up by 8.74 percent.
This year, Stout said she expects there to be another tuition increase.
“We’re building our 2015-16 budget right now, and we’re looking at about a 2-3 percent increase,” she said.
Decreased enrollment and increased tuition is a national trend. Bucks County Community College is no exception.
“Across the country, community college enrollment has been down over the last two years. What we noticed was each student was actually taking fewer credits,” said BCCC President Stephanie Shanblatt.
At BCCC, the number of students enrolled for last spring was down 3.3 percent, or 293 students. The number of classes being taken was down by 6 percent, or 4,561 fewer credits than Spring 2014.
Again, the decrease was expected, with an improved economy and shifting demographics to blame, according to Shanblatt.
“This is really the natural progression of the economy improving. When unemployment goes up, our enrollment goes up,” said Shanblatt.
Unemployment rates have continued to drop since a peak in 2010 at 9.6 percent, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. They were down to 6.2 percent in 2014.
“Another contributing factor is the demographics in Bucks County. There are fewer high school graduates now,” said Shanblatt.
According to the Pennsylvania Department of Education, enrollment in primary and secondary public schools in Bucks County has decreased by more than 5 percent over the last 12 years.
On April 9, BCCC Board of Trustees approved a 3.8 percent tuition increase effective this fall, meaning a typical full-time BCCC student will pay $4,178 for 24 credits and fees for the 2015-16 academic year.
This most recent increase remains on trend with previous years during which tuition has increased on an average of $4.50 each year. It is, however, the lowest increase in the last five years.
Board of Trustees Chairman Jim Dancy added that the measure was taken after careful consideration of all financial options.
“The Board of Trustees is always extremely reluctant to raise tuition,” Dancy said. “We have taken every action possible this year to reduce our operating costs while continuing to provide the top quality education that students have come to expect from Bucks. Our primary goal is to minimize tuition increases, and do so only as a last option.”
According to Bucks President Dr. Stephanie Shanblatt, “All budget lines were carefully reviewed, so there were many small cuts that across the college did add up. Additionally, we had several vacant positions—primarily from retirements—that we will not fill.
Although college officials are under intense financial pressures, forcing them to scrutinize over significant budget cuts, they remain steadfast in their mission to providing affordable, quality education to their communities.
Lately, both MCCC and BCCC have actively focused much of their efforts towards recruitment and retention.
“We’re paying a lot of attention to student degree completion,” said Stout.
Through funding from The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, MCCC implemented its Integrated Planning and Advising Services to increase student success rates.
“We’re seeing early behavioral changes, students taking more credits. I think it provides really good feedback for the students,” said Stout.
Shanblatt said BCCC officials are looking for new ways to retain students through improved advising services, citing the recently launched Student Planning Module and educational planners as the most recent enhancements.
“We’re trying to engage our students, invest in them more,” said Shanblatt.
Educational planners meet with new students to help them develop and better understand their goals. They work to ensure students walk away with a plan.
“We’re really trying to make sure students have people they know they can go to, not just an office, but people,” said Shanblatt.
Stout cited the decreased high school market as one of the factors affecting college enrollment.
“To combat this, we have dual-enrollment programs with the high schools which gives students the opportunity to earn college credits while still in high school,” she said.
MCCC’s Gateway to College Program is another way the college is working to increase high school graduation rates, and in turn, college enrollment.
Partnering with 16 area school districts and the Montgomery County Workforce Investment Board, MCCC started this program in the fall of 2013, to help at-risk students earn their high school diplomas. Students also have the opportunity to earn college credits while completing high school requirements.
Workforce development is another major focus of community colleges and officials continue to develop programs geared for high-demand fields while also building mutually-beneficial partnerships with local employers.
This past February, MCCC received a $2 million gift from the Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation. This gift will establish an endowment that will help fund students who are pursuing an education towards a career in high-demand industries.
“They see the value in us building the workforce pipeline of the future,” said Stout.
The funds from the gift will seed money for new programs and student scholarships, fund incumbent worker training, and provide support for veterans pursuing their education in in high-demand or STEM fields.
Regardless of the financial hurdles, community college officials continue to advocate for improved growth, thanks to a commitment towards their mission and a strong belief in the value community colleges add to their local communities.
“There’s no doubt that there’s skepticism about the value of a college degree, but there is plenty of research showing there’s still a strong return on investment with a college degree,” said Stout.
According to the Pew Research Center, “A typical college graduate earns an estimated $650,000 over a career more than a high school graduate.
Shanblatt asserted that the value of obtaining a college degree remains very high.
According to Shanblatt, “The Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce says that almost 70 percent of all jobs in the United States require some higher education; perhaps not always a four-year degree, but at least a certificate or Associate Degree. In order to earn a family-sustaining wage in today’s job market, some higher education is necessary.”
“The value of a Bucks degree, whether as the first step towards a Bachelor’s Degree or to gain immediate employment, is significant,” said Shanblatt. “Bucks [will] continue to provide a quality learning environment with faculty dedicated to their students at a great value.”