No Bubble Here

At Foothill College the parking lot was packed with cars. Despite rising tuition community college in California is more of a bargain than ever. At $24 per unit, a typical Associates certificate, such as Business Administration, with a 90-unit requirement would cost $2,160. (Including other fees raises the total two-year cost to about $2,500.)

Should the student wish to continue on to a four-year degree, seven University of California  campuses will guarantee acceptance and accept transfers of credits if the student has a minimum GPA of 2.8 to 3.5, depending on the campus.

Community colleges may lack the luster of four-year institutions, but at least their graduates won't be groaning under a load of debt. Lines of cars and long waiting lists confirm that thousands of students have come to that realization.