Let’s Change the Conversation About Community Colleges

Regarding the current state of community colleges, there is encouraging news.

Although we have not yet returned to pre-pandemic levels, community college enrollment is rising nationally, with a 2.6% increase reported in the fall of 2023. According to other surveys, 82% of Americans are comfortable with their taxpayer dollars going to community colleges, and they have more favorable views of trade schools and public community colleges than they do of four-year colleges and universities.

Meanwhile, and not surprisingly, studies continue to highlight the stark differences in cost between community colleges and other higher education options. In the 2023-24 academic year, CollegeBoard noted that the average sticker price for full-time students at private nonprofit four-year institutions was $41,540, compared to approximately $4,000 for public two-year in-district colleges.

Despite these findings and the obvious financial advantages, however, there are still too many prospective students and families who perceive community colleges as inferior, or a fallback option. In a NACAC survey , high school counselors at more than half of private, non-parochial schools indicated that community college transfer was “very stigmatized” among parents, families, and students.

Even without surveys, we know this is true. Scroll through subreddits, Facebook groups, and other public forums, and you’ll find the critics, vocalizing myths and outdated stereotypes of community colleges.

While this poses a problem for enrollment managers, it’s even more detrimental for students who would truly benefit from the cost savings, transfer pathways, and career opportunities offered by community colleges—but hesitate to enroll, for fear of being judged or seen as settling.

It’s for those students and their families that community colleges need to start, continue, or amplify their efforts to shatter the stigma.

Hudson Valley Community College (HVCC) in Troy, NY, is a prime example of a community college working creatively and tirelessly to redefine the narrative. Here are just some examples of how Hudson Valley is changing the conversation.

Highlighting Outcomes

Perhaps the most common misconception about community colleges is that their low cost equates to low quality. (“I'm sorry but many community colleges do not come close in quality to a good 4-year university,” says one Redditor.) But that simply isn’t true.

According to Strada Education Foundation research , “community college attendees who complete an associate degree or successfully transfer to a four-year institution value their education at rates comparable to or higher than recent bachelor’s degree completers.” So as obvious as it seems, community colleges need to be consistent and loud in proudly showcasing outcomes.

Through its digital “Meet HVCC” repository of stories and videos, through admissions events, paid media, nurture streams, and more, HVCC proves that you can start there and wind up transferring to Columbia University like Michael Galvin ’23 or leading a rewarding career as a licensed clinical psychologist like Jennifer Cole-Pucci ’09 . In shorter callouts, too, HVCC consistently boasts examples of big-time employers who hire HVCC grads, including Google, Bank of America, Apple, Regeneron, and LabCorp. By constantly promoting outcomes, HVCC effectively dispels the myth that affordability means a lack of opportunity.

Heavily Promoting Student Life

Another pervasive myth is that community colleges lack a vibrant student life. In one of the many subreddits questioning their value, one Redditor wrote: “Community colleges are inexpensive because there’s no dorms, sports, etc. Most young adults want the ‘full college experience.’”

While it is true there are no residence halls at HVCC, it’s quite the opposite when it comes to student engagement. With 20 sports teams (ranging from football to golf to tennis to esports), plenty of organized student activities (think cookouts and movie nights), and more than 50 active chartered clubs, HVCC students have plenty of ways to get involved and connect with others—just like at a four-year institution.

Take athletics, for example. One way HVCC is actively dispelling the no-sports myth is by managing several social media accounts across various platforms—a few dedicated to specific sports teams and a main handle that covers all athletic highlights.

The school’s staff is also full of media pros. In a local news feature titled “HVCC baseball’s hot start sparked by 16-game win streak,” HVCC’s recruiting coordinator Trevor Kniffin is quoted saying “The team camaraderie is unlike any team I’ve ever been around. They do a lot together, even outside of baseball which helps build the clubhouse.” Highlighting those strong bonds in addition to the actual wins no doubt resonates with aspiring college athletes.

Encouraging Campus Visits

Everyone in higher education knows that nothing converts a student from inquirer to applicant or applicant to enrolled better than a campus visit—as long as you have a campus worth visiting and a community worth meeting.

HVCC has both. Their 130+-acre campus in Troy is home to plenty of green space, the $50 million Science Center, an outdoor athletic complex, an art gallery, cafés, a child care center, one of the leading advanced manufacturing training centers in the U.S., and so much more. And the admissions team, expert faculty, coaches, and students are not just helpful but enthusiastic.

That’s why HVCC hosts more in-person visit opportunities than you’d expect of a community college: Campus Visit Days, Instant Admission Days, general information sessions, counselor sessions, campus tours, and program-specific events. As for their big Open Houses in the fall and spring, HVCC invests in an integrated marketing strategy to draw as many attendees as possible.

Partnering with Employers

In a report from Harvard Business School, only 36% of employers agreed with the statement, “Community colleges are producing the work-ready employees that my company needs.” Only 26% strongly agreed.

To address concerns about the employability of community college graduates across sectors, HVCC goes straight to the source: employers. The school partners with big companies like GlobalFoundries, Albany International Airport, National Grid, Regeneron, Albany Medical Center, St. Peter’s Health Partners, and more in multiple ways. They work together to create workforce training programs, apprenticeships, advisory boards, scholarships, expert-reviewed curricula, mentoring opportunities, and even guaranteed internships.

Connecting with High Schools

High school is where stigmas and opinions regarding “what’s next” for seniors are both created and perpetuated. Whether it’s a gap year, a community college, or choosing between universities, these big decisions are often influenced by conversations held in the hallways and among friends.

Enter HVCC’s high school programs —with both public school districts and private schools. From partnering with several New York State Pathways in Technology (NYS P-TECH) programs to giving students the opportunity to earn college credit (for free!) while still in high school, HVCC is putting their name out there early and with exciting incentives. Their Troy campus even houses a STEM High School that provides a rigorous, cost-free education to students.

Continuing to Innovate

HVCC is committed to redefining the perception of community colleges—not just by investing in new facilities and programs, hiring award-winning faculty, and offering abundant support services for all kinds of students, but also by getting the word out about them. (If a tree falls in the forest…)

Their ultimate goal? Go from “I’m just going to community college” to “I’m going to community college.” Or more specifically, “I’m so glad I went to Hudson Valley Community College.”

This content was paid for and created by Hudson Valley Community College. The editorial staff of The Chronicle had no role in its preparation. Find out more about paid content.