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Bill Jones is the executive director of Kaplan College in Stockton. Kaplan officials say they have seen an increase in the number of students enrolling in vocational schools, which could be related to the weakening economy. (Brian Feulner/News-Sentinel)
Some Lodi-area students seek a new course for college because of rising costs
By Jennifer Bonnett
News-Sentinel Staff Writer
News-Sentinel Staff Writer
Saturday, November 22, 2008 5:41 AM PST
With state universities threatening to limit the number of incoming freshman for next school year and student loans growing scarce, more Lodi-area students may be turning toward two-year colleges and vocational schools.
These options are often cheaper and provide a quicker diploma turn-around, something that looks appealing in a sagging economy.
"Generally speaking, financial downturns correspond with increased enrollment at community colleges. Some students come for job re-training in order to meet the demands of the changing economy, others because of increasing fees and restricted enrollment at public and private universities," said Greg Greenwood, director of public information and marketing at San Joaquin Delta College.
The same trend is apparent at the private Kaplan College in Stockton, which offers shorter-term, higher-education diploma programs in one of the most in-demand fields in the state: health care.
As the unemployment rate rises and the job market is uncertain, it appears more people are returning to school to acquire new skills and pursue more-secure, high-paying career paths, according to Kaplan College spokeswoman Angela Worth.
Debra Norman, of Lodi, was among those who received diplomas from Kaplan last Saturday.
Norman, 29, chose a vocational school because of the instructional hours, from 8 a.m. to noon. It was a schedule that worked perfectly with her daughter's.
"She went to school when I went to school," said Norman.
It took only 10 months to earn her medical office degree, and now Norman is looking for a job to use her skills in medical billing, handling insurance companies and checking patients in and out at a doctor's office.
Kaplan Executive Director Bill Jones said the college's programs are appealing for several reasons.
"They allow for the flexibility that a high percentage of adult learners need in order to integrate college into their working and family schedules," he said.
Norman started her secondary education at Delta right out of high school, but said that the classes were sometimes hard to get into and buying textbooks and paying for individual courses got expensive.
"I just saw on the news the other day that they're going to cut enrollments in the colleges, so Kaplan is a good choice," she said. "They give you one price, and that's what you pay for the entire school: the books, the classes, everything."
Traditional colleges harder to get into
Decisions by the California State University system to limit enrollment, along with unemployment will likely lead to even more students finding the doors to higher education closed.
This news comes as high schools are tabulating the biggest-ever senior class of college-prepared students.
California State University, the nation's largest four-year public university system, expects to tighten enrollment by 10,000 students this fall due to funding cuts.
Earlier this week, Chancellor Charles Reed said that he is setting a limit on enrollment at the system's 23 campuses, with priority given to those within the campus' geographic area. Students from outside the area will go on a waiting list, and be ranked by grades and test scores.
Students who meet requirements but do not get in could be offered a place at another campus, but officials expect many would go elsewhere or to a community college.
The CSU and UC systems were already looking at sharp funding cuts in the budget recently passed by the legislature, but when that budget fell apart due to lower-than-predicted revenue, they were faced with additional reductions.
With his proposal, Reed expects enrollment to drop from the current 460,000 to 450,000 students, thus saving campuses millions of dollars.
Yvette Maragliano, a local college preparation coach, said she has personally seen more students considering a community college, even as they continue to send applications to all areas of higher education to see where they get accepted.
"By applying broadly, the students will have more options and choices for their education beyond high school," she added.
Maragliano founded Students Organized for Success six-and-a-half years ago, and now has a wait list of students and parents seeking her services.
There are many reasons that students may find community or vocational colleges appealing at any time, despite the state of the economy, Maragliano said.
"That could include being undecided on a career path, not ready or able to leave home, wanting additional academic preparation in a career goal or having not met freshman eligibility requirements," she added.
Becky Jauregui, who helps Lodi High School students fill out financial aid documents and college applications, said there's a lot of anxiety regarding heading off to college with the current budget.
"We're just urging our students to get their applications in by Nov. 30 and apply to more than one campus," she said.
College applications are due Dec. 1, although Jauregui said many students got theirs in as early as Oct. 1. Both Lodi and Tokay high schools held workshops earlier this month to help students fill out required forms and found many were already done.
"The interest (in going to college) is still there, although the funding is a concern," she added. "Some college funds are gone, and the costs are going up."
Economy not helping
The rising tuition costs and shrinking student loan market has other parents worried about funding their children's education.
Others who saved up for higher education are also being affected.
"Many parents who had college fund plans for their children have seen a dramatic loss in those accounts over the past three months," Maragliano said.
Parent Suzanne Schreiner said that the thought of taking out loans for college is scary. Her middle son, Logan, is interested mostly in private Christian colleges.
"But he may end up at Delta for two years first," Schreiner said of the cost.
Her eldest, Kevin, is already attending the two-year college. Last year, he was at University of California, Santa Cruz, but after changing his mind about what he thought he wanted to do, he is at Delta re-evaluating, Schreiner said.
"We sure like the cost. Even if it goes up in January, it is still so much cheaper than Santa Cruz," Schreiner said.
Marilyn Wentling has daughters at both Pacific and Delta colleges. Their youngest would like to go to a private Christian college next fall, but she too may go to Delta because of the rising costs of education.
"If my kids don't get scholarships or loans, they don't go to college," she said.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Contact reporter Jennifer Bonnett at jenniferb@lodinews.com.
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LUSDparent wrote on Nov 23, 2008 7:15 PM:
edumacation wrote on Nov 22, 2008 10:59 AM:
educator wrote on Nov 22, 2008 10:36 AM:
Whoa Nellie! wrote on Nov 22, 2008 8:09 AM:
Both my wife and I completed our GE at Delta and went on to get degrees at CSU schools many years ago. "
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