The economy seems to be the number one factor influencing the increases in college enrollment, inspiring people who have jobs to further their education to improve job security and providing an option for those who have been laid-off to get a degree in hopes of landing a job in the near future.

Community colleges and online courses are experiencing the greatest boosts in college enrollment since they offer savings and flexibility to traditional and nontraditional students alike. President Obama’s education proposal also places emphasis on the value of community colleges and online courses with hopes to improve the overall quality of their degree programs in order to create greater accessibility and affordability to a broader group of potential students.

What Do Community Colleges Offer that is so Appealing to Students Today?

Community colleges offer two-year degrees instead of 4-year degrees, significantly cutting down the cost of tuition. For nontraditional students who work and/or have families, completing a degree faster means getting back home quicker and on the new career path sooner. Traditional students can complete two years at a community college with lower tuition costs and then transfer to a 4-year college where tuition is likely to be more.

The Convenience and Savings of Online College Strikes Again

Online classes offer savings to students both in time and money. Full-time job holders can continue to work yet pursue a degree from the comfort of their own home, working at their own pace, saving precious time that can spent with family or on the job. Online students can also save on the cost of transportation, babysitters and parking.

What Might the Future Bring for Community Colleges and Online Education?

The attention community colleges and online education are getting from President Obama’s education plan is likely to support the increase in college enrollment, especially if community colleges receive the proposed funding to improve the quality and availability of their classroom and online programs. What is really important is that more people, especially those who otherwise may not have pursued a college degree, can get a college degree and a quality college degree at that.

With Crisis Comes Change

The fallen economy has caused many Americans to struggle but it has also forced Americans to take a hard look at how we’ve been living. Improving the education system by improving community colleges and online programs so that more people can know the benefits of a college degree is the kind of positive change that can come out of a crisis. The increase in college enrollments indicates that the demand is there and such change is necessary.