Cost Effectiveness--The De-stigmatization of Community College by Elliot

Cost Effectiveness--The De-stigmatization of Community College by Elliot - July 2022 Scholarship Essay

Education’s usefulness is not only the academic content but how knowledge can benefit humanity. With the cost of college rising in the United States, the gates to knowledge remain shut to many. Financial roadblocks often prevent people from pursuing post-secondary education. Even with the addition of scholarships, grants, and public loans, some students do not want to risk drowning in debt like their peers. Luckily, some institutions help students receive a non-exorbitantly expensive college education: community college. While the prestige of attending a top 20 university is alluring, the value of education remains with community college. Over the next 10 years, I hope that more students recognize the importance of community college as a solvent alternative to major universities.

Community college gives resources that increase social mobility by educating workers. When people achieve their post-secondary education, they can apply for jobs requiring higher educational skills as they stand out from other applicants. The skills and knowledge learned in post-secondary education allow students to apply for higher-paying jobs. Through community college, students who apply for high-skilled jobs are less burdened by student debt while obtaining a decent source of income. Instead, workers can invest their money and accumulate long-standing wealth. This is beneficial for societal welfare because the benefits of owning a degree give students from the lower class the chance to rise out of poor conditions. The increase in social mobility allows for an increase in disposable income, which can be used to spend on goods and services that benefit the overall economy of the United States. From both a personal and national perspective, obtaining an education allows for greater economic stability. Ultimately, community college allows non-affluent students to earn an education that benefits both their finances and the overall American economy.

Additionally, community colleges provide access to a liberal education, which allows them to better actualize and understand themselves. Community colleges, like most other colleges, provide ample opportunities for students to explore their passions and understand who they are. Through institution-led extracurriculars, people have the opportunity to experience various passions and activities that foster people’s interests. Community college allows students to have these experiences without having to accrue a significant financial debt.
Through community college, students can better understand the epistemological biases that they may have and recognize how those biases impact their lives. Liberal education decreases the impact of misinformation because people are less susceptible to propaganda. Furthermore, liberal education cherishes a long-lasting education. In various fields, workers must learn and adapt to new technologies and innovations. Having a lifelong learner mindset allows workers to remain competitive throughout their careers. Post-secondary institutions instill the importance of education not merely for the present needs, but also the future. Students from community colleges learn various ways to civically engage with their communities Increasing affordability allows for students to become better in tune with their preconceptions and to become responsible citizens.

An increase in access to education allows for an expansion in innovation due to the introduction of new perspectives. Various academic fields are dominated by particular groups. For example, in computer science, men are typically at the forefront of design. The lack of alternative perspectives prevents the field from discovering new concepts and producing new products. From a class-based perspective, the domination of affluent students in fields such as finance and business prevents perspectives from impoverished communities from impacting research. Introducing outsiders to these fields will boost innovation as it will allow people with different perspectives to see challenges from unorthodox angles and provide new solutions. Having the perspectives from marginalized groups allows for products and services to be tailored to everyone, not just those who could previously afford college.

Community college allows for the expansion of innovation as low-income students can receive an education that allows them to participate in various fields. Access to education allows for the expansion of this as students can gather the resources and knowledge to better impact their fields. Additionally, post-secondary education allows for students to connect with professors, alumni, and business leaders; this allows them to have a foot in the door concerning new ideas. Introducing outsiders into research allows for new research studies to be conducted because of the differing perspectives. This not only increases innovation in fields that have already been established but allows for the invention of new fields that focus on issues affecting marginalized communities.

Over the next 10 years, community colleges should become less stigmatized as it allows marginalized communities to prosper from education as any other group. Making education affordable allows for low-income students to move out of the lower class and provide to local communities, spurring greater economic growth. Additionally, making college better accessible allows for a more informed and knowledgeable citizenry, which creates a more responsible and inquisitive society. Finally, opening the gates of education to previously marginalized groups allows for both the industrial and research sectors of academic fields to better innovate with the introduction of previously disregarded perspectives. Expanding the benefits of education to all of humanity allows the species to flourish.