State urged to increase community college fees

San Francisco Chronicle 3/7/07

By Tanya Schevitz

A new study on California's community colleges recommends the state gradually and regularly raise class fees at the rate of inflation for personal income -- which would mean an increase of about $1 per unit per year, or about $30 a year for a full-time student.

The report by the nonprofit National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education suggests that new fee revenue be used to improve financial aid services, among other things.

It also recommends that the state increase the aid level of Cal Grants and the number of grants available for community college students. Only 18 percent of eligible applicants were given a competitive grant, according to the study.

Despite the low class fees in California's community colleges, many low-income students cannot afford to attend or are working nearly full-time jobs to make ends meet because they do not get enough financial aid, according to the study.

Fees represent just 5 percent of the total cost of attending a community college for students who don't live at home. The other costs, for housing, commuting, books and other living expenses, have risen far faster than personal income, according to William Zumeta, who co-wrote the study with Deborah Frankle.

The study also says that California community college students get less federal financial aid than their counterparts in other states because they have little help in the application process and often do not know what aid is available.