Despite the potential for community colleges to advance their students’ careers and earnings, student graduation rates are abysmal. According to a report by National Center for Education Statistics, 13 percent community college student complete their degree in two years, 22 percent graduate in three years, less than 30 percent have earned a degree in four years (Figure #). A separate study of California community colleges found that only 24 percent were able to either transfer to a four-year college or obtain an Associate's degree within 6 years. We identify six factors in the literature explaining poor community college completion rates:lack of student preparedness, lack of personalized support from understaffed counselors and teachers, uncertainty …show more content…
While some employers are successful in building bridges to community colleges, many opportunities are poorly advertised and generate little engagement with community college students.

And finally, while America’s College Promise ensures increased financial stability through free and reduced tuition, David Brooks has noted that tuition represents only a fifth of the cost of community college life. The greatest challenge community college students face are often personal expenses: textbooks, transportation, housing, childcare cost, and foregone wages affect students more deeply.

Moreover, community college tuition is already quite inexpensive for students from low-income families who qualify for Pell grants and other sources of financial aid. In 2002, 38 percent of community college students have their whole tuition covered by grant aid. A third of students had only hundreds of dollars in fees. However, the least expensive schools do not experience increased retention rates, and in many cases suffer from increased attrition. While community colleges in California are among the most affordable, a majority of California community college students never complete their