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Often derided and rarely appreciated, community college serves as pop culture’s go-to punching bag. Perpetuating views of it being purgatory for underachievers, or a non-committal form of higher education, don’t reveal its real impact on society.
Community college plays a vital role in our higher education system, providing accessible education to many Americans. Nearly 1 in 3 high school graduates attend a two-year college during their life. These schools also enable hope and facilitate the American Dream: community college students, compared to their peers at four-year institutions, are much more likely to be the first in their family to attend college.
Want some more proof? Community colleges are also producing workers for some of America’s most in-demand jobs: 50% of all new nurses and the majority of other new health care workers are educated at community colleges. Add in the price difference — average annual tuition of $2,713 compared to $27,293 at private, 4-year colleges — and it might actually seem like those choosing the community college route are the ones getting the last laugh.
Let’s explore the stereotyping and dive into the beloved comedy “Community”: a source of pride and laughter for students everywhere. Sure, caricatures run abound, but we think the show reveals what vastly talented students can discover in a junior college classroom. And who knows, you may just learn something new about this pillar of higher education.