"OVER THE LAST FEW months, it has become increasingly apparent that colleges and universities across the U.S. are feeling the impacts of the coronavirus pandemic. In turn, many soon-to-be college students are changing their plans and have expressed specific concerns about the location and cost of their first-choice schools.
Community colleges are likely not the only higher education institutions with increased enrollment during economically uncertain time periods. However, there are characteristics of community colleges that make them uniquely suited for students during the COVID-19 pandemic.
First, demand for higher education is heavily influenced by price. This is a good thing for relatively inexpensive community colleges.
The average in-state tuition at public two-year institutions for the 2017-18 academic year was only $3,243, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. This is less than the current maximum Pell Grant amount of $6,345 for the 2020-21 year; this grant is awarded to undergraduate students who demonstrate exceptional financial need.
The low cost of community college can be particularly attractive to low-income families who are more likely to qualify for federal, state and local grant aid." …