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English 111: Paul Anderson

Final Draft: Synthesis Essay
19 November 2014
Benefits of Community College vs. Universities
Everyone has run into the idea of furthering their education after high school. Some
people decide to go to universities right off the bat. This may be because their performance in
high school has provided them with various scholarships. It could even be with the help of
Federal Financial Aid. Others, such as myself, didnt receive an adequate number of
scholarships to persuade me to attend a university right away. In more situations than not, it is
more beneficial to attend community college before attending a university. The article The
Benefits of Attending Community College: A Review of The Evidence by Clive R. Belfield and
Thomas Bailey, presents various ideas for the possible returns of attending community college,
and the article Report: Community College is The Best Value in Higher-Ed, backs this up with
various examples. Others argue the negative aspects of obtaining an education from a
community college, and the article The Community College Open-Door Philosophy: What
negative outcomes have developed? by Christopher Oliver, explores the flaws in community
college. However, the source Is Community College Really College? by Mark Blankenship
points out the various misconceptions about community college and shares some success stories
about people who did attend community college but transferred to a university after. While some
clearly favor the university, other sources do a good job pointing out to high school seniors and
people thinking about furthering their education the reasons why attending community college
first is the best option for those without substantial monetary assistance.

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The Benefits of Attending Community College: A Review of The Evidence makes the
point initially that community college is relatively inexpensive, and that it does, in fact, make
sense for some students to start there for that reason alone. Not only is it cheaper, but it also
doesnt inhibit any earnings gains. In fact, the students who transferred from a community
college to a university to obtain higher credentials, such as a bachelors degree, earned more than
their two-year graduate counterparts, and earned as much as 43% more than high school
graduates (Belfield, Bailey, 12). Also, Bailey made the point that anyone with some college
education (this includes community college graduates) has less of a dependence on housing
assistance by 34% and food stamps by 22% (14). Bailey also found incarceration rates for both
white and black males with some college education to be substantially lower than people who
had only graduated high school (15). He also made it clear that the gains from acquiring at least
some college education appear to be increasing over time, reinforcing the idea to at least start
at a community college and then possibly transfer to a university. Someone with even just
some college education has a clear advantage over anyone who has no college education. This
information in itself backs up the idea to begin at a community college and then decide whether
or not to attend a university.
In the Community College Journal, Report: Community College Is The Best Value In
Higher-Ed, addresses the fact that tuition is rising across all sectors of education, (community
and private college along with universities,) but, community college still remains a bargain
compared with its university counterpart. This source broke down the various reasons why
community college is the better financial option. They went onto say that: in 2007, average
tuition and fees were $2,361 at community colleges- a $95 or 4.2% increase compared with
2006, according to the report (Anonymous 1). However, this report found that a full-time

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student in this sector receives about $2,040 in grants and tax benefits, lowering the average net
cost of tuition and fees to a mere $320 (Anonymous 1). This number is significantly less than
the cost of tuition and other fees for students attending four year institutions. In the year of 2007,
the report found that the average tuition prices at universities were $6,185 and $13,589; these
numbers had also increased from the year before (Report: Community College 1). These
students attending four year universities received an average of $3,600 in grants and tax benefits,
but still owed an average of $2,600 at the end of every year (Anonymous 1). This source also
elaborated on how students deal with the problem of rising college tuition; they found that threequarters of full time students at four year universities received some form of financial aid
(Anonymous 1). The two largest sources: federal loans-which make up 40% of the total, and
grants from colleges and universities which comprise 21% of the total (Anonymous 1). The last
idea that this source covered was that although Pell Grants still remain a popular source of
funding for low-income students, it had failed for the fourth year in a row (in 2006-2007) to keep
up with inflation (Anonymous 1). The report found that the maximum Pell Grant covered 32%
at a public four-year college and 13% at a private college-making Community College in many
cases, an enticing option for cash-strapped students (Anonymous 1). With the problem of rising
college tuition, the fact that Pell Grants are not keeping up with inflation, and that three quarters
of students attending universities receive some form of financial aid, the sensible choice would
be to attend the cheaper community college first and then transfer to a university.
Both of these sources agree that for any students concerned with finances, the better
option is to begin at a community college and then transfer to a university, but they differ in
reasons why. Belfield and Bailey both believe it is the better option to save money because it:
A.) doesnt cause any differences in earnings, and B.) allows more people to gain some college

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education, and this means that there will be an overall lower reliance on things like housing
assistance and food stamps, and also lower the incarceration rate. Belfield and Bailey also point
out that these people with some college education will enjoy the earnings gains, and that these
gains appear to be increasing over time (Belfield, Bailey 15). On the other hand, Anonymous
believes that community college is the better option for low-income students in order to save
money. This report presents the differences in the amount of money owed after receiving tax
and financial aid benefits such as Pell Grants. The report concludes that students will end up
owing more if they attend a four-year institution instead of a community college, therefore
making community college the better option for any student worried about money. Clearly,
anyone who wants to enjoy earnings gains, while at the same time saving money, should attend a
community college. The more people realize the opportunities presented at these two year
institutions will equate to fewer people depending on government assistance, and also lower
things such as the incarceration rate.
My third source by Christopher Oliver investigates the negative aspects of attending a
community college over a university. He starts out by talking about the positive aspects of
community college and elaborates on the fact that most of them have open-door policies. This
means that they accept all of their applicants. As a result of this, many of the courses have been
watered-down (Oliver 12). This is the direct result of the open-door policy because of the fact
that many students attending these colleges are quite frankly unprepared for higher education.
Oliver then goes on to tell about a study by Patricia Diaz. This study found that 79% of students
who started at a community college and then transferred to a University experienced transfer
shock (13). The root reason behind this problem is because of the community college
curriculum that is catering to people not ready to partake in a higher education. Although there

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are negative aspects to attending a community college, such as the watering down effect, it is
important to remember that the students who attend these community colleges are responsible for
themselves and the material they are expected to learn. If some students conclude that they
arent cut out for anything higher than an associates degree, so be it. But for the remainder of
the students who do wish to pursue a higher degree, such as a bachelors, they must realize that it
will be difficult, and they will need to adapt. It is up to the students to make the decision as to
what is best for them.
However, my fourth and final source by Mark Blankenship talks about the various
misconceptions about community college, and then backs up these misconceptions with success
stories of people who had begun at a community college and then transferred to a university.
Blankenship addressed the first misconception that just because community college costs
substantially less than a university, that students are receiving a discounted, cheap, or ripoff education (1). This, however, is false. In 2005 a study conducted by the U.S. Department
of Education, found that nearly half of all undergraduate students are enrolled in two- year
institutions, and millions of them are from low income or immigrant families, (Blankenship, 2).
This shows that community colleges are not only enrolling students, but making them upwardly
mobile for the first time (Blankenship, 2). Additionally, Blankenship included a study by the
University of California-Los Angeles Chicano Studies Research Center; it noted that one quarter
of Latinos who earn doctorates begin their studies in community college (2). These two studies
show that there are, in fact, people taking advantage of the cheaper, community college option,
and then progressing into four year, and sometimes even doctoral programs. Blankenship also
noted how many universities are catering to these students who begin their studies at community
colleges but plan to transfer to universities. For example, in Alabama, many private colleges

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joined the 2 to 4 Program. This program creates a state-wide standard that makes it easier for
two-year college students to transfer their credits to four-year institutions (Blankenship, 2).
The last thing Blankenship does is give first hand testimonials of students who began
their studies at community colleges, and then transferred to universities. Take Jose Ignacio
Cavajal-Regidor, for example. He is a current Undergraduate Transfer Scholar. At the age of 13
he could not read or write English after moving from his Spanish-speaking community in San
Jose, Costa Rica to the city of Lawrence, Kansas. He worked hard throughout high school and
decided to attend community college after graduating. Caravajal-Regidor made the extra effort
to communicate with his professors and even worked as a writing tutor. Essentially he did
everything to set himself up for success at a university. Upon transferring to a university, he did
experience transfer shock, but noted that after the first semester he was well adapted. At the
time of the publication, he was a senior in college and was well on his way to success. He used
himself as a prime example of the benefits of transferring from a community college to a
university (Blankenship 4). Blankenships findings reveal that there are students who take full
advantage of community college and then progress to universities. The main idea behind it all is
that yes, it may be hard transitioning from a community college and then to a university, but it
can be done. Caravajal-Regidor was a prime example of this, and there will be many more
stories for the many more people who make the smart decision and attend a community college
before a university.
Contrary to Belfield, Bailey, Anonymous, and Blankenship, Oliver believes that it is
more beneficial to attend a university instead of a community college. Oliver concedes the
argument that some students may benefit from the open-door policy, giving students who
performed poorly in high school a fresh start. However, as a result of this open-door policy,

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Oliver argues, the curriculum becomes watered-down (Oliver 12). This is caused by both the
professors and the curriculum aiding the less prepared students. Oliver says that students
experience transfer shock when they transfer from a community college to a university;
however, Blankenship rebuts this with statistics of students who began at a community college
and then transferred to a university and benefitted from the experience. Blankenships best
argument against these biases was his first hand testimonials of students who began at
community college and transferred to a university. They showed that these biases didnt apply to
everyone, and anyone who is willing to work could, in fact, start at a community college and
then acquire a bachelors degree or better at any reputable university.
Community college does face biases because of its low price tag compared with the more
expensive universities across the nation. Contrary to popular belief, students who attend
community college are not receiving any less of an education than students who attend a
university. The students who are willing to both work and study hard will succeed when
transitioning to a university. It is the students who are underprepared that create these biases and
the watering down effect. Belfield, Bailey, Anonymous, and Blankenship all agree that
community college is the better option for anyone who is financially tight. Even with Olivers
arguments that students experience a watered-down curriculum and that these students will
experience transfer shock, community college remains the better option for any student who is
money conscientious and is hungry for success.

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Works Cited:
Anonymous "Report: Community College is Best Value in Higher-Ed." Community College
Journal 78.3 (2008): 5. ProQuest. Web. 10 Nov. 2014.
Belfield, Clive R., and Thomas Bailey. "The Benefits of Attending Community College: A
Review of the Evidence." Community College Review 39.1 (2011): 46-68. ProQuest.
Web. 10 Nov. 2014.
Blankenship, Mark. "Is Community College really College?" The Education Digest 76.6 (2011):
38-41. ProQuest. Web. 10 Nov. 2014.
Oliver, Christopher. The Community College Open-Door Philosophy: What Negative
Outcomes Have Developed? . Viewpoints. 16 Oct 95. 1-24. Print.