By Maria Conzatti
In an era of widespread economic uncertainty, a challenging job market and skyrocketing tuition costs, questioning the wisdom of pursuing a four-year degree at a private university is understandable. Recent headlines about high-profile universities facing lawsuits and funding losses add to these concerns. Given the questionable return on investment and the risk of overwhelming student debt, now more than ever seems to be the time to earn an affordable associate’s degree from one of New York state’s community colleges.
Community colleges across the SUNY system, including Nassau Community College, offer a variety of programs in high-demand fields that give students a competitive edge in today’s economy. Courses in the expanding medical industry, such as nursing, physical therapy and radiology, have become immensely popular, as have technology programs in cybersecurity and IT. We have also recently launched an entrepreneurship program to equip students with the skills they will need to start or grow a business. This fall, we’re introducing our first career and technical education program in construction, with plans for more programs next year.
In an age of soaring tuition costs, community colleges remain an affordable gateway to opportunity. The cost of college has more than doubled in this century, with an average student expected to pay nearly $59,000 a year at a private, nonprofit university. That amounts to upward of $500,000 for a bachelor’s degree when you factor in loan interest, as reported by the nonprofit Education Data Initiative.
With these high costs comes more debt. Even after accounting for federal financial aid and grants, 57 percent of graduates from private universities end up with debt averaging $28,400, according to the College Board. Many of these graduates carry that debt into retirement, with borrowers over age 50 accounting for 23 percent of the federal student loan balance as of 2021.
In contrast, the average annual tuition for a community college in New York is around $5,900, according to Community College Review. As living costs rise, community colleges like ours provide a crucial, affordable alternative for students seeking quality education.
It’s important to note that community colleges have faced their share of challenges over the past decade. According to the American Association of Community Colleges, U.S. community colleges lost more than 1 million students, or 14.4 percent, between 2010 and 2017. The pandemic exacerbated this decline, with an additional 773,000 students, or 16 percent, disappearing from 2019 to 2022, as reported by the Association of Community College Trustees. In New York, the situation has been similarly dire, with a SUNY-wide enrollment decline of 14 percent over the past 15 years, driven largely by falling community college numbers, according to State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli’s office.
The loss of students has also led to a decrease in funding. Like many community colleges nationwide, ours faced a significant fiscal challenge. While other institutions responded with mass layoffs and drastic cuts to programs, our college took a different approach. Despite a $14 million deficit, we implemented a careful reorganization plan that not only erased the shortfall, but also secured a $10 million positive fund balance, all without sacrificing tenured staff and largely preserving our broad course catalog.
Enrollment has rebounded at our college, with an average increase of 3 percent every semester over the past three years. While this uptick is partly due to regional trends, it also reflects our commitment to providing students with an education they can directly leverage for success. Additionally, the college recently earned reaccreditation from the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, ensuring that the education we provide meets all necessary standards.
Although the country’s top private universities may continue to face challenges, the future looks increasingly bright for community colleges, both nationwide and here at home. We are preparing the next generation of workers who will not only be on stronger financial footing, but also poised to stay and work right here on Long Island.
Dr. Maria Conzatti is chief administrative officer of Nassau Community College
