Declining enrollment at CSU campuses

[Zach]

A lot of people don’t want the accumulated debt. Back in the day, most college degrees would get graduates a livable income. That’s not the way things are now. You get college debt your income can’t or struggles to pay back.

[navane]

Originally Posted by Zach

A lot of people don’t want the accumulated debt. Back in the day, most college degrees would get graduates a livable income. That’s not the way things are now. You get college debt your income can’t or struggles to pay back.

This is especially true in California. Universities have become expensive due to competing to be bigger, better and flashier than the next. Fancy fitness centers, gourmet dining halls, premium facilities. That cost is passed on to the students. Plus, the costs of education went up when the universities realized that the students would just get bigger and bigger government loans.

Also, in recent years, California has been pushing for community college attendance. The state even moved to have community colleges start offering 4-year bachelor's degrees. So, the state kinda shot itself in the foot with that. Now students realize they can stay home, for less tuition, and get a degree without going to the expensive universities.

[NinjaPoodle]

Originally Posted by navane

...
Also, in recent years, California has been pushing for community college attendance. The state even moved to have community colleges start offering 4-year bachelor's degrees. So, the state kinda shot itself in the foot with that. Now students realize they can stay home, for less tuition, and get a degree without going to the expensive universities.

This. The school where I work/attend is experiencing problems related to this ( and other things).

[33girl]

Being a roofer, welder or plumber is most definitely not "working in bad conditions." There's nothing wrong with getting your hands dirty and these are some of the FEW jobs that are recession and AI proof.

[amIblue?]

I agree with you about there being nothing wrong with getting your hands dirty, but being a roofer is dangerous (working from heights and usually in terrible heat, at least here in the south). But for any skilled trade, people can make bank, and we need those people. Trade work can’t be outsourced overseas or done remotely. I would never discourage any young person with an interest in a trade from pursuing it. My nephew is a genius, and he has been doing carpentry work while he has been in high school. He is seriously considering pursuing carpentry instead of going to college. We’ve all been kind of shocked because of how well he does academically, but if it’s going to make him happy and not saddle him with student loan debt…go for it.

[*winter*]

The guy my nephew dated throughout college is super smart as well. He just didn’t want to go to college right after HS. Maybe he will go someday? Idk.

Where I come from, everyone has done blue collar labor jobs all their lives. It just is normalized there. My dad was working for his union, setting up and breaking down shows at the Convention center up until he was in his 70s.
He was still working on cars, too. (Somehow, all of his mechanical genes missed me though )

He wanted us to go to college because he lost a lot in life when the industries started going overseas in the 80s. I think he saw it as bringing more job security.

Idk if it was this thread, but I had the weirdest dream I was back at community college last night lol…CC is doing good in this part of the state. Although not every county has one, many places are adding branches so that people can at least get some coursework locally. Here is a project completed by the late Rep Jeff Pyle (a great educator and human)

https://triblive.com/local/valley-ne...-in-ford-city/

[aephi alum]

The times sure have changed.

It used to be that you'd rack up some student loan debt, graduate, get a good paying job, and get out of debt relatively quickly, leaving you free and clear for homeownership and children if you want. Now, student loan debt is so crushing that it'll take folx forever to pay it off - and you can't get out of student loans by declaring bankruptcy. No wonder people are going the vo-tech route, or getting an associate's degree at their local community college and then transferring to a 4-year college as a junior, or getting their associate's degree and stopping there and getting a job.

This will be terrible for NPC sororities, as we cannot operate chapters at community colleges. Look at that drop at SSU!