Earlier today a news brief was posted on the Daily Record’s website that spoke about the increase in students attending county colleges. Below is an excerpt of the release, which I’m sure will be made into a fuller article in the coming days:
The New Jersey Council of County Colleges says there are 158,152 students taking classes this fall. Nearly 81,000 are full-time, a 4.6 percent increase over last year.
County colleges previously had more part-time students. But the group says that trend has changed as tuition climbed at four-year schools.
Tuition at New Jersey’s county colleges averages about $2,500. It’s $9,500 at four-year schools.
This is great! Not only are New Jersey students saving some money by attending the county colleges, but as more and more of them make the 2-year pit stop at “county” before heading off to the larger schools, there is less and less of a stigma attached to the schools. County colleges often get tagged with the “13th Grade” moniker or other derogatory nicknames. I’ve never attended classes at a county college, so I wouldn’t know what the classroom atmosphere is like though I can’t imagine it is too much different than attending a smaller class at Rutgers, Monmouth, Rowan, or TCNJ.
As a side note, if this means that more New Jerseyans are going to college, then that is another great outcome of the county colleges!
I agree whole heartedly Joe! I see them as money well spent.