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Dahn Shaulis dahneshaulis@gmail.com Community college enrollment has dropped by 1.6 million students (23%) in the last six years.  Even worse, full-time enrollment at community colleges has dropped by 36% over the last 6 years. Source for Data: National Student Clearinghouse. US college enrollment has dropped by about 2.5 million students over the last six years, but this College Meltdown has not been spread evenly. For-profit colleges have been hardest hit in their percentage decline of students and campus closings. But community colleges, which may be the best educational value for working families, have been even harder hit in the sheer numbers who are not attending. While the for-profit college crash has been well documented in the media, the crisis in community colleges has been under-reported. For-profit colleges have seen a decline of about 600,000 students since their peak, but community college enrollment has declined even more, by 1.6 million. [Image below:  ...

Dahn Shaulis dahneshaulis@gmail.com This chart illustrates the mostly downward movement of the College Meltdown.  Overall, revenues to higher education institutions continue to rise, but these numbers mask the many weaknesses in the system. What we are looking at is unsustainable.  While elite colleges and brand name colleges will continue to thrive, many for-profit colleges, Historically Black Colleges and Universities, community colleges, and lesser valued public and private colleges will suffer. This trend may be disturbing for working people and their families, but it is also an opportunity for others to consolidate power and increase profits.   

Dahn Shaulis dahneshaulis@gmail.com 42% of today’s college students are living near or below the poverty line. Student services have been cut substantially since the last recession. Total US college debt has increased to $1.4 trillion. Only about 40% of student loan debtors are paying back more than interest.   US college enrollment has declined 5 consecutive years, with no reasonable expectation that the decline will slow down.  State funding cuts for higher education are continuing in several states, with no new taxes and increasing burdens from Medicaid, pensions, and infrastructure repair.  More than half of all college teachers are low-paid adjuncts. College mergers and closings are expected to increase.  Differences between for-profit and non-profit colleges continue to be blurred.  All are signs of a long-term crisis in US higher education reinforcing even greater social inequality--what I have coined the "College Meltdown." Every year, t...