Amid political scrutiny and declining enrollment, colleges are intensifying competition. A proposal in Illinois to let community colleges award bachelor’s degrees sparked opposition from four-year institutions. This change could make education more accessible for rural residents and working adults, but universities fear losing students to community colleges.
Supporters, including Gov. JB Pritzker, argue it would be “easier and more affordable” for students and increase the skilled workforce. Senate Majority Leader Kimberly Lightford remarked, “We’ll lose those students to the community college level.”
Four-year colleges, under pressure from politicians and facing financial strain, are competing with community colleges by entering dual-enrollment and short-term workforce training markets. They expand early decision programs to secure applicants and lure students from other institutions.
Public universities offer incentives to attract high school graduates from neighboring states, while private colleges open satellite branches in competitor territories. “This clash occurs with declining populations and high school graduates,” noted Davis Jenkins from Columbia University.
Certain aspects of this rivalry can benefit students, providing more choices and discounts. However, critics argue “turf wars” increase consumer anxiety and hinder beneficial changes. In Iowa, private colleges blocked community colleges from offering bachelor’s degrees, frustrating advocates like Emily Shields from Community Colleges for Iowa.
Over 35 million people live too far from a public, four-year university. Thus, 24 states have legislated to allow community colleges to offer bachelor’s degrees. However, four-year colleges worry about competition for dwindling students as enrollment has fallen by nearly 2 million from 2010 to 2023.
The dual enrollment market, where high school students earn college credit, is another battleground. Community colleges dominate, but four-year institutions are expanding their offerings. The National Alliance of Concurrent Enrollment Partnerships saw a 27 percent increase in four-year universities joining.
While universities use dual-enrollment as a recruiting tool, NACEP warns it complicates student navigation of different enrollment systems. In Nevada and Colorado, universities expand dual-enrollment to counteract declining traditional student numbers.
Four-year universities are also moving into short-term workforce training, an area traditionally dominated by community colleges. Community college certificate program enrollment increased by 28 percent since 2021, spurred by eligibility for federal Pell Grants.
Universities increasingly poach students from each other. Public universities in declining regions offer lower tuition to out-of-state students, while private colleges open branches in competitive areas. The admissions process has become more aggressive, with early decision becoming more prevalent and colleges recruiting students past deposit deadlines.
This competition can lead to lower prices for families, but also creates planning challenges for students. Nearly half of applicants admitted from waiting lists received notifications after May 1, complicating their decisions.
Policymakers in some states are intervening to regulate this competition. California legislators propose limiting the California State University System’s authority to block community colleges from offering bachelor’s degrees.
Ultimately, universities and colleges are encouraged to focus on offering value to attract students. “Everyone has a shared interest in being responsive to students,” asserted John Albright from the Colorado Community College System.
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