Community colleges have always been a crucial part for Americans interested in continuing or restarting an education.
This year’s figures from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) show that there are approximately 8.7 million students in the United States enrolled in community colleges.
Over several decades, the cost of earning a college diploma has increased dramatically and Long Beach City College was not immune. According to the College Board’s 2018 Trends in College Pricing Report, prices at public two-year institutions are more than twice as high in 2019 as they were in 1989.
The Viking News broke down the cost of Long Beach City College and neighboring community colleges.
What does LBCC cost now?
Depending on whether you live at home or not, or if you are a California resident or not, these figures vary.
According to LBCC, the total cost of attending as a California resident is $15,072.
These costs include tuition and fees, books and supplies, transportation, housing and food, and personal expenses.
Full price for students living at home detailed in chart below.
Going to college is now the second-largest expense an individual is likely to make in their lifetime, right after purchasing a home. According to the College Board, tuition and fees for in-state public colleges was $10,230. And that’s not including room and board or other expenses.
Between 2009-10 and 2019-20, average tuition and fee prices rose by $670 at public two-year colleges, according to College Board.
However, for those currently living away from home, or planning on moving, cost in housing and personal expenses do rise substantially.
To see the full price for students living away from home, check the chart below.
Now with the Long Beach Promise, Long Beach Unified School District students are eligible for two-year free tuition at Long Beach City College.
Along with that, added resources from LBCC and LBUSD can potentially lower some of the cost.
Available resources
Of the 24,704 LBCC students, 16,289 (66%) students receive some type of grant or scholarship. The average amount of aid given to students is $3,247.
Of these students, 8,484, or 34% receive Pell Grants, and 517 students or 2% receive a federal student loan.
75% of LBCC freshmen are reported to be receiving some sort of financial assistance.
Long Beach City College curated a program for first time college students named the Viking Advantage.
To be eligible for the Viking Advantage, students must be enrolled in 12 units or more per semester, apply to FAFSA or CA Dream Act, and be a California resident.
Benefits of the Viking Advantage:
- First year tuition free at LBCC
- Priority registration for Fall and Spring semester
- Participation in a free two-week summer bridge program
- Enrollment in a first year college success course
- Assistance during your second year at LBCC that will be focused on career development and mentoring
- Receive a $500 LBCC Book Voucher ($250 Fall & $250 Spring)
- Free bus pass
The Viking Advantage is exclusive to Long Beach City College and not other colleges.
The Long Beach Promise however, is a partnership with Long Beach Unified School District Schools. To be eligible, students must immediately enroll at LBCC after graduating from their LBUSD school.
List of eligible LBUSD schools:
- Avalon
- Beach
- Browning
- Cabrillo
- California Academy of Mathematics & Science (CAMS)
- Educational Partnership High School (EPHS)
- Jordan
- Lakewood
- Long Beach Adult School
- McBride
- Millikan
- Poly Academy of Achievers & Leaders (PAAL)
- Poly
- Reid
- Renaissance
- Sato Academy of Mathematics & Science
- Wilson
As of the beginning of the fall semester of this year, those eligible for the Long Beach Promise are now eligible to fall under the new Long Beach Promise 2.0.
With the new Long Beach Promise 2.0, LBCC students also receive:
- Priority registration for the Fall and Spring semesters
- Transfer admissions pathways to specific majors at Cal State Long Beach:
- Business administration
- Communication studies
- Criminal justice
- Computer engineering and computer science
- English
- History
- Liberal studies, education
- Mechanical and aerospace engineering
- Psychology
- Studio art
- Dual advisement & future student benefits w/ CSULB
With these programs in place, substantial tuition costs and fees may be alleviated for students.
Along with the programs in place that can resolve a lot of tuition cost issues, LBCC has adopted in using Open Education Resources (OER).
OER are teaching, learning, and research resources that some professors use at LBCC. This includes Zero Textbook Cost, Textbook Free, and Low Textbook Cost courses.
With a Zero Textbook Cost course, students will not have to pay for a traditional textbook. A Textbook Free course has never had a traditional textbook or student materials. And a Low Textbook Cost course uses textbooks and materials under $40.
Along with the Long Beach Promise programs, these particular courses can possibly reduce another layer of costs.
LBCC has also begun giving out free Long Beach Transit bus passes this semester. It is still unconfirmed whether the “Strong Beach” pilot program will be returning for Spring 2020.
The “Strong Beach” pilot program started in fall 2019 and it was made to hopefully relieve a barrier of transportation by providing free bus passes to students.
Students who are in the College Promise, disabled, disproportionately impacted, in EOPS, foster youth, or a veteran are eligible for a bus pass.
Based on the amount of resources that LBCC offers it is very probable that most students may end up paying less than the estimated amount.
Compared to other colleges
Looking at California community colleges in general, LBCC’s in-state tuition cost of $1,182 is less than the state average of $1,636, a price that has risen 9% in four years.
In comparison with neighboring community colleges, Long Beach City College falls directly in the middle, between Cerritos College and Cypress College.
The same type of expenses are applied to Cerritos and Cypress, and prices vary depending on your California residency, same as LBCC.
According to Cerritos College, the annual cost of attending as a California resident is $14,802.
To see the full price for students living at home, check the chart below.
For Cypress College, the annual cost of attending as a California resident is $16,035.
To see the full price for students living at home, check the chart below.
Both Cerritos and Cypress are not drastically cheaper or more costly than LBCC, however when it comes down to resources, all colleges differ.
The Long Beach Promise or Promise 2.0 does not include Cerritos College or Cypress College.
Cypress has the Anaheim Union Educational Pledge Program, where students can get their first-year of tuition free and priority registration for Fall and Spring semesters.
Cerritos College has a similar program to the Long Beach Promise: the Cerritos Complete Promise Program.
The Complete Promise Program is only available to students from ABC Unified School District (USD), Bellflower USD, Downey USD, Lynwood, Norwalk-La Mirada USD, and Paramount USD.
With the Complete Program, students who attend Cerritos College will receive two years of free tuition and two years of priority registration.
Both Cerritos and Cypress have Open Education Resources (OER), which means expenses on textbook can be reduced.
Cypress College offers a discounted Orange County bus pass for $46. A student must be enrolled in nine credits to be eligible.
Cerritos College does not offer a free or discounted bus passes.
Why has the cost of college risen?
Several factors must be examined in order to answer the question of why the cost of a degree has risen to the point of unaffordability.
Historically, public colleges and universities have received a substantial amount of public funding, an amount that has decreased over the years. The Center of Budget and Policy reported that the overall state funding for public two- and -four-year colleges in 2017 was $9 billion than in 2008. And a result of the 2008 recession, unemployment rates and a decrease in housing values led to less income and sales tax revenue for states, the main monetary source for funding education.
Georgetown University’s Center on Education and the Workforce indicated that there were 20 million college students in 2014, versus 2.4 million in 1949.
Damon Skinner, Welding and Metal Fabrication Assistant Professor at LBCC discussed the deregulation of companies that give students loans, and the increase of for-profit colleges as contributing factors towards both increased enrollment and in turn, the increased debt crisis.
“Allowing people to borrow what they can never pay back is never a good idea,” said Skinner. “For-profit colleges are a business. They’re rewarded by selling school.”
The total amount of grant aid supporting post-secondary students increased by 81% (after adjusting for inflation) between 1998-99 and 2008-09 and by another 56% between 2008-09 and 2018-19, reaching a total of $135.6 billion, according to research by College Board.
Is it possible?
Sara Blasetti, LBCC Counseling Faculty, says yes.
“As a counselor, one of my specialties is helping students successfully navigate school and life. One of the main conversations I have with students is how to have a good balance of both. I always discuss financial aid with students and encourage them to apply. I personally recommend to try to wait to take out loans once the student transfers to a four year institution.”
Breaking down the time commitment that academic success requires, students should factor in two hours of homework a week per unit they are in, Blasetti says. For example, a student taking 12 units should expect roughly 24 hours of homework per week.
For a student taking 12 units, they should estimate at least 24 hours of homework a week. This, plus actual class time can be 36 hours a week, which almost equals a full time job. Add on another full-time job, and “the question then becomes, is this realistic? For most students, the answer is no,” said Blasetti.
She recommends first-semester students use the following information when planning their courses:
If you are working:
40 hours per week. Take 6 units
30 hours per week. Take 9 units
20 hours per week. Take 12 units
Less than 20. Take 15 units
“If they get really good grades and find that it is not too challenging, add more units the next semester,” Blasetti said.
For many students, especially for those not living with their families, the only plausible solution to fund school is to work throughout. The U.S. Department of Education reported that 78% of undergraduate students work, and 25% of full-time students (a student enrolled in 12 or more credits a semester) are also working full-time, generally at least 32 hours a week. Of all undergraduate students, 40% work at least 30 hours a week.
For students employed throughout college and/or afterwards, addressing minimum wage in comparison to the cost of education is crucial.
Pew Research Center reported that since 2013, the average worker’s wages grow between 2% and 3% per year, compared to 7%, 8%, or 9% in the 1980s and early 1980s.
With a cost of a college education steadily rising, and a minimum wage that has more or less remained stagnant, how are students supposed to combat this?
Is it worth it?
As the prices of a college education has steadily risen over the years, the value of a degree is called into question.
Lee Douglas, now Dean of Language Arts and Communication, was a former professor of the LEARN 11 course, a course that teaches students learning strategies, time management, etc… To ultimately prepare or help students in their academic career.
“Education is more than getting a degree,” Douglas said. “Personal growth and learning more about yourself are huge factors while in college.”
Finding mentorship at the college level is another path towards success for students, Douglas mentioned.
Having a role model, not just for future career choices, but for decision making for fiscal and academic choices, can help a student’s success dramatically.
Skinner offered his perspective, disputing the popular claim that a four-year-degree is integral to success.
“I encourage all students to complete a two-year degree,” Skinner said. “I always encourage the degree, then get a job, then finish the degree.” He acknowledged this may not be as applicable to those in more academic majors.
A LBCC alumni, Skinner paid for his schooling as he went, and went on to acquire an apprenticeship program where he did not accrue any debt. He was then able to enter the workforce, without obtaining a bachelor’s.
Students struggling with finances are able to explore options such as entering a trade that perhaps requires only an associate’s and an apprenticeship, allowing students to also enter the workforce quicker.
“There are absolutely other viable educational options for students besides obtaining a 4-year degree. In fact, many of these educational options pay very well. Our society thrives on diversity, this is true for careers/jobs as well. Our society would collapse if we didn’t have skilled contractors, skilled welders, skilled electricians, vocational nurses or computer technicians, none of which require a four year degree,” Blasetti said.
Georgetown University’s Center on Education and the Workforce reported that, 35% of available job openings will require at least a bachelor’s degree, 30% of the job openings will require some college or an associate’s degree and 36% of the job openings will not require education beyond high school.
“High schools are selling four-year degrees as a golden pathway to all opportunities,” he said, sharing his observations over the years. When comparing his high school experience towards the one he has witnessed through his children, earning a four-year-degree is far more emphasized in today’s classrooms.
Contributing to this shift, “High schools are taking their vocational classes out,” said Skinner.
For an increasing amount of bachelor degree recipients, there is a decreasing amount of jobs available. Amid the rising pressure to attend college and the increased accessibility towards achieving a degree has created a consequence of increased competition for jobs, leaving more blue-collar positions left unfilled.