Community college tuition

Demand for a community college education is booming, yet many institutions are hurting financially as dwindling property tax revenues leave them substantially hiking tuition.
The same thing is happening at Macomb Community College and Oakland Community College, both of which have increased tuition by more than 11%.
The lack of funds is forcing colleges to consider fewer course offerings, push for more alumni donations and seek foundation grants.
Still, community college enrollment statewide is up 20% in the last five years. And these colleges remain a substantially cheaper option than four-year colleges and universities.
"It's the best deal in town," said Mike Hansen, president of the Michigan Community College Association.

Tuition hikes are a last resort

He also said he thinks community colleges will need to collaborate more, with some specializing in certain programs and others paring their offerings.
Officials at Oakland Community College are reviewing every aspect of the school, from accounts receivable to academic programs, to cut costs. The review, expected to be complete in October, could mean some programs will be reduced or eliminated, Chancellor Tim Meyer said.
"We have substantially less revenue. The question is, how do you make up that difference," Meyer said.

The bigger picture

So far, the fixes are short-term "ways to stop the bleeding," Jacobs said, but they don't address the larger picture. State leaders, he said, are more focused on the financial problems of K-12 districts that have hemorrhaged students in recent years than they are on community colleges.