Several states already pay for the costs of community college, and the idea is spreading.
Amid the student debt crisis, there have been calls to make college free. The pros and cons of such a move have been widely discussed, and the pros and cons are more commonly understood than they used to be. Free college would help to eliminate the student debt crisis, and give the American consumer much more spending money, which could benefit the economy greatly. On the flip-side, nothing is free in the end, and the costs of providing free education would push America’s debt-GDP ratio even higher, while still requiring an increase in taxation. Now, what about all of those professions which badly need new workers, but don’t have enough prospective students right now? What about the community college courses that, if made free, could help fill a growing hole in the American economy?
Several states already pay for the costs of community college. This is easier to achieve on the state level, which is why several states have already done so. While the costs of degree programs would make public funding extremely costly, community colleges can provide access to jobs that you can jump right into. Furthermore, jumping right into a degree program isn’t the only way to get a degree, as community college credits can be transferred in many cases. It can thus be argued that free community college kills two birds with one stone: the positions that most need fresh workers will be easier to fill, and people will then have easier and less costly access to a degree, should they need it down the line.
The primary downside to free community college is, unsurprisingly, the cost. It would cost the US a few billion dollars every year, and future enrollment rates are not entirely predictable. While the costs of the program could be paid off over time with a more productive and educated American labor force, the initial costs would have to be carefully justified.
The reason why colleges offering degree programs are often not covered in these initiatives is simply a cold, hard truth. The market for college-educated degree holders has become saturated. While there are plenty of jobs out there, many of the jobs that require a degree are already taken. When it comes to the trades, there is a shortage of workers, which is expected to continue as the baby boomers move into retirement. There are certainly pros and cons, but we do know that we could use some more skilled tradespeople.
