Community College Incentives To Help Increase Student Enrollment

Over the past decade community colleges have seen steep declines in enrollment.

One student believes he will have successful a career by starting at a community college.

"I took a look into what they had and they had a business program and I was like, business is what I want to do," said student Alex Esparza.

But fewer young people are choosing the same path. Since 2013, two-year colleges have seen a 36% drop in students and schools were hit hard during the pandemic. 

Traditionally, low paying jobs that don't require a degree are now offering higher wages, and more prospective students are choosing trade schools instead.  

The decline in enrollment has pushed the community college system to reimagine the way they connect with students.

Francisco Rodriguez, Chancellor of The Los Angeles Community College District said, "We wanna make sure that they have the supports, uh, that they need from childcare to transportation, to food, uh, to the kinds of textbook support that they need to be successful in class."

Some community colleges also provide instant admission and financial aid.

Esparza is getting free tuition through the promise program and plans to transfer to a four-year college next year.

Community colleges are seeing results after the changes, and national enrollment kicked up in the spring.