For those who still haven’t figured out why community college enrollment is dropping, one only needs to look at the challenges that young adults currently face.
In Michigan, the median income for a householder under the age of 25 is currently about $35,000. In Washtenaw County, that’s nearly $4,100 less per year than the area’s living wage. The vast majority of householders under the age of 25 are renters. In 2023, in Washtenaw County, rent at the 50th percentile for a one-bedroom apartment is about $1,244 per month. (In case you’re thinking that a person could rent a studio apartment for less, you’re right: a studio apartment rents for about $1,239 per month.)
The rent is an important consideration. Among young adults, it is more important to pay the rent than it is to go to school. (Even though going to school would make it easier to pay the rent.) The figures above are for rent at the 50th percentile. Fair market rent (FMR)is the method HUD uses to set federal housing assistance payments. In Washtenaw County, the FMR for a one-bedroom apartment is currently $1,153.
That’s more expensive than 93% of the FMR areas nationwide. In 2010, Ann Arbor’s FMR was higher than 90% of the FMR areas nationally. So, in the Ann Arbor area, where rents were already higher than in most places in 2010, they’ve risen even more.
Why free tuition won’t increase community college enrollment
The high rents, and the near absence of available rental units in this area have made it very difficult for independent young people to consider going to school. How can they when their first priority is earning enough to pay their exorbitantly high rent? And those (mostly lower income) students who would otherwise attend a community college will be among the most challenged to make ends meet. They may be working two or more jobs. In addition to not earning enough, they simply don’t have time to go to school.
If the WCC administration were truly serious about increasing the Washtenaw Community College enrollment, they would work with city and township officials to increase the pool of nearby rental housing. They would also offer on-campus access to agencies that can provide housing assistance. Increasing the number of available housing units and connecting students with housing subsidies may make it easier for students to attend classes there.
When would-be students are worried about being able to pay the rent, they don’t go to school. Living in the Ann Arbor area is economically challenging for most people, regardless of their educational attainment. But asking the lowest earners to pay punishingly high rents and then find the time, energy and resources to also attend school is asking too much.
Unfortunately, those who do go to school find themselves choosing among a limited number of degree programs and a larger number of certificate programs – neither of which will help them increase their earnings substantially.
It’s not hard to figure out community college enrollment is down hard.
Photo Credit: Lawrence G. Miller, via Flickr
