Free college isn’t a new idea in California. But some community colleges, facing declining enrollment, are waiving fees for more students than ever, and adding on perks like free textbooks, meals and transportation.
Kathleen Coronado, a freshman at Modesto College in Modesto on Sept. 7, 2022. Coronado is enrolled with the college's free tuition program. Photo by Rahul Lal, CalMattersBut when the coronavirus pandemic struck and she was forced to learn online, Coronado saw her motivation dwindle. So did her confidence in being able to afford the cost of going to college.Then, at the beginning of her senior year, she learned Modesto Junior College would waive her tuition under its “Free for Me” program.
“Money is a big incentive,” said Zachariah Wooden, vice president of legislative affairs for the Student Senate for California Community Colleges. “It’s not like they’re getting paid to take courses, but it’s more, you know, ‘I can save money by taking courses in the fall semester.’”The pandemic created a number of financial challenges for college students in California.
“If you have someone going to school in a high cost of living area such as the East Bay and Oakland, you also have cost of living. And add to that the likelihood that employment…if it has to be reduced to meet the time demands of college, also reduces income,” said Laney College President Rudy Besikof. “So we’re really trying to meet students where they are.”
As a result of its Free for Me program, Laney College has seen its student headcount increase by 5,250, says Vice President of Instruction Becky Opsata. “It is very exciting to not have another term of enrollment decline,” she said.
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