By Emily Zastrow, Ruby Schwalm, and Tess Fang
What’s the Stigma?
College is a place for students to personalize and continue their academic journey. Post-secondary education is a path that connects career opportunities, knowledge, and relationships. Yet, one of the biggest decisions to make when it comes to college is where to go.
With a wide range of options, students are free to put their skills, experience, and intelligence to the test. This can give students the opportunity to pick and choose the right place for them.
However, college decisions can come with a stigma: community college.
A harsh line is evident in the separation of universities and community colleges. Aside from lower costs, a lack of housing, and a small geographical sense, the issue of community college stigma boils down to an inferior representation.
In an interview from Best Colleges with Bradley Griffith, fitness director at John A. Logan College in Illinois, he stated that community colleges suffer with an aura of disapproval.
“‘A lot of students believe they are too good for community college, or they could never attend there because their parents expect better or their peers will make fun of them. As community college leaders face enrollment problems, they need to realize that stigma is a real reason why they miss out on a lot of students.” Griffith said.
Community colleges take a hit and put themselves in the way of criticism. It’s certainly an issue in today’s college scene and local areas, like the tri-counties of Delta College.
It’s important to understand the stigma surrounding community college and see why and how it creates internal and external issues.
What Do Others Say?
Allen Croutch, 25, was asked a few questions regarding the stigma around community college, and why it is typically looked down upon vs. universities.
“Statistically speaking, people with more money attend universities, and people who require more financial aid go to community colleges, especially people who tend to have a lower income,” says Croutch.
Croutch went on to explain how there was no way it would have been possible for him to go to a university given the financial state he was in, and that it was much more feasible for him to attend community college to pursue a degree.
“Community colleges offer everything that a university offers, but it is easier to gain access to things than it would be at a university. It is slower-paced, and there is no oversaturation of people who need help; therefore, it is easier for a student to get one on one time with counselors, professors, and tutors,” states Croutch.
Croutch mentions that community colleges offer more of a personal experience than universities due to the lesser amount of people and the available resources.
“I do not believe that universities are better than community colleges just because they cost more. Depending on the degree, I can still earn the same one and pay less rather than paying an abundance of student loans to gain the same degree at a university,” says Croutch.
“In my opinion, the only difference between going to a university rather than a community college is that it may look better on job applications, and I could possibly gain a better experience,” Croutch states.
Croutch continues to mention that with community colleges, people can stay at home and live their normal everyday lives, whereas, with a university, you would typically have to travel a farther distance or move away from home, find a job closer to the area, and basically start over.
Whether an individual chooses to attend a university or community college, it does not make them less or more of a person. But when people are shamed or looked down upon for attending community college just because it does not cost as much money as a university does, it can cause people to feel insecure about wanting to pursue a higher level of education for themselves.
Katrina Behm, 20, is a student who transferred from Ferris State University to Delta Community College, to SVSU. She gave some feedback about her experience at both the university and community college.
“I think that there is a bad stigma towards community college because it is rooted in classism. Community colleges are generally cheaper and built around smaller communities, and people view it as ‘missing out on the college experience,’ especially when a lot of these people are in late adolescence,” says Behm. “During this time of life, kids feel like the next step is going to drastically alter every aspect of their lives, which we all eventually learn to not be the case.”
Behm continues to state that the stigma comes from the assumption that greater price means greater quality, but just like any product sold, it takes weighing out the pros and cons to determine the true value.
“I don’t think one option is better than the other, but I do think that each is suited for very different people. Typically, universities are communities built around themselves which can create an environment that’s easily adaptable. I was 17 when I went to Ferris, and at the time I did not have a driver’s license so getting to the grocery store, class, and home could be done with ease,” says Behm. “On the other hand, this luxury came at a $4,000 price for one semester, which far outweighed the positive side.”
Behm went on to say that it had felt like she only connected with the college students, and not any of her professors, or counselors.
“I feel like part of the point of going to a university is to meet people and to gain an unforgettable experience, which is great for people looking for that type of atmosphere, but I found that it just wasn’t for me,” stated Behm.
According to Behm, community colleges have a stronger connection with the local community, so students are more likely to attend their classes at the scheduled time and then return home to carry on with their daily lives.
“After leaving Ferris, I transferred to Delta where my state/federal grants covered my finances with the school while I worked to afford my apartment and was able to save on top of that. Delta offered all sorts of resources, both within the school and outside of it, which really made a difference for me,” states Behm. “So, from my own experience, the university was my best option when I needed to make more steps towards adulthood and provided an environment that nurtured that, but community college was best suited for my lifestyle.”
What Can You Do?
It’s crucial that we work to reframe the stigma around community colleges because of the plethora of benefits community college offers and because no one should be shamed for the education they choose to pursue.
Luckily, people are already working towards ending the stigma. A social media campaign called #EndCCStigma has been created to help end the stigma around community colleges.
Steve Robinson, president of Owens Community College in Ohio and creator of #EndCCStigma, says the hashtag aims to “brand media stories that provide positive and accurate portrayals of community colleges.”
The main purpose of the hashtag is to rewrite the narrative on community colleges by showcasing positive and true depictions of community colleges.
Robinson also works on End Community College Stigma Podcast – a podcast that popularized the voices of students, graduates, faculty, and advocates of community colleges. In Series One, 40 individuals spoke up to help create a more positive outlook on community colleges.
Ending a stigma takes time, patience, and lots of unified effort. With the dedication and passion behind our work, we can create a positive, uplifting stigma around community colleges.
