Most students who enroll in a community college (80%) intend to transfer to a four-year institution to earn a bachelor’s degree. Their plan is to save money by:

• Living at home and commuting.
• Earning their credits in the required general education classes at a bargain price.

This strategy is called the 2+2 Model.

Unfortunately, this game plan rarely works. Students who pursue the 2+2 Model only succeed in earning a bachelor’s degree 14% of the time. I admit I was surprised (shocked) when I saw the data. And then I thought about it. Here are six reasons why that percentage is so low:

Open Enrollment

It is common for community colleges to have an open enrollment policy. This is an invitation to academically mediocre or worse students. For example, a student with a high school GPA of 2.5 only manages to graduate from college about 20% of the time. About half of community college freshmen need remedial classes. This is a HUGE red flag.

The Students

The 2+2 Model tends to attract 1st Gen, minorities, and/or students from low-income families. Statistically, the deck is stacked against these students coming “out of the starting gate.” For example, 1st Gen students graduate from college 26% of the time and the students from the lowest family income quintile only graduate 11% of the time.

The Transfer Process

One of the biggest barriers to completing a bachelor’s degree is losing credits when transferring from a community college. Even with articulation agreements between two-year and four-year institutions, a significant number of credits may end up lost in the shuffle. This can result in needing to attend five or six expensive semesters at Big Bucks U instead of four.

Some states handle the 2+2 Model much better than others. For example, California has a Transfer Admission Guarantee (TAG) program that provides students from a community college who earn an associate degree guaranteed admission to several four-year colleges and universities.

“Stuff” Happens

There is a rule of life called “Stuff Happens.” The longer it takes you to earn your degree, the more likely it is that something will occur to derail your plans. For various reasons, two thirds of community college students attend part time and while they are grinding away, pursuing that associate degree, stuff happens.

Financial Planning

One of my “hot buttons” is the lack of adequate financial planning for college. Community college is quite affordable. A majority of states have some kind of free tuition program. A student can muddle through two years of community college financially. However, the “rubber meets the road” when it comes time to enroll at Big Bucks U. Often students don’t have a four-year financial plan and aren’t prepared for the “sticker shock.”

Who You Know

Unfortunately, there is a “who you know” aspect to success at college. In my experience, the parents of 1st Gen, minorities, and students from low-income families are rarely any help obtaining internships or job interviews.

I am a HUGE proponent of attending community college or technical college to obtain marketable skills, e.g. many types of associate of applied science degrees or associate of occupational studies degrees lead to “breadwinner” jobs. 

For many students, pursuing a four-year degree is impossible or extremely risky because of the finances. Community college is tuition free in most states. Community college has a much lower risk factor when it comes to gaining a good job. 

IMO, way too many students go to college, because the Supply far exceeds the Demand, and only the best and the brightest are likely to succeed, graduate and score a well-paying, professional job. A lot of these students should be looking for marketable skills in community colleges, CTE, e.g.