Source: The American Prospect
by Natalie Note
“Community colleges are a critical component of American higher education. For many working adults and lower-income students, these institutions provide an accessible, affordable pathway to obtaining a bachelor’s degree. A four-year college is an increasingly expensive proposition. For the 2025-2026 academic year, the average annual in-state tuition and fees at a public college totals $10,340; at a private college, it’s $39,307. With these financial pressures weighing heavily on young adults and their families, the opportunity to enroll in community college classes and transfer to a four-year institution is a cost-saving option well worth considering. But there’s a major issue facing the transfer students who choose this path: Many of them aren’t ready to do the work that their new schools demand.” (12/13/25)
https://prospect.org/2025/12/13/continuing-community-college-conundrum/