Everyone loves “free” stuff. The Wall Street Journal published this article on 7/28/16:

wsj.com/articles/lets-agree-on-free-community-college-1469748121

You are probably going to need post-secondary education to get a good job in today’s fragile economy. Over forty percent of high school graduates rush, like lemmings, to four year colleges. No one has ever bothered to tell these young people that only about one in four of those who matriculate will graduate and get a good job.

I’m a big proponent for community college. There are various reasons for attending community college. I’m going to focus on two of them:

A gateway to a degree at a four year school.

With careful planning you can substantially cut the cost of a four year degree by spending two years at a community college. The basic ground rules still apply. You’ll need a good financial plan that avoids excessive student debt, a marketable major, and a targeted four year school that has a strong program in that major and good connections to the business community. Remember you are in a completion for a few good jobs. Half of those that earn their bachelor’s end up under employed or unemployed. It goes without saying that you will have to perform academically.

A source of skills that lead to a well-paying job.

Community colleges have lots of marketable certifications that can lead to well-paying jobs. Earning a certification and you can escape the minimum wage/part time work trap so many are mired in today. Layering that certification can increase your skills and your paycheck.

Community college is a low cost, low risk approach to gaining marketable skills. However I am not for “free” community college:

1. Community college is already low cost, and there is financial aid available including Pell Grants. (There are some studies that show students need some help navigating the financial aid maze.)
2. “Free” negates “accountability.” Students need to have some “skin in the game.”
3. We tend not to value that which comes free. That’s just human nature.
4. There are is no reliable data on the quality of community college.
5. There is little reliable data on the effectiveness—as in students getting good jobs—of community colleges. (The WSJ article cites enrollment numbers as the measure of success.)
6. Free community college isn’t free. Somebody has to pay. (I guess the governor of Tennessee doesn’t understand opportunity cost.)

Many parents and students make poor post-secondary education choices. In my opinion half of those high school graduates enrolling in four year schools would be better off choosing community college.