Most community colleges in the US don’t offer dorms.

Or at least they didn’t used to.

Rising tuition among four-year colleges and universities, however, has spurred community college enrollment to record highs. This influx of students makes on-campus dorms not only desirable, but also hugely profitable.

Savvy landlords near Santa Barbara’s City College have converted single-family dwellings into impromptu student dorms, replete with housecleaning service. And administrators at California’s Sierra College have modernized their old barracks-like dorms and negotiated student meal plans with nearby restaurants.

Other schools are eager to cash in as well.

Cerro Coso Community College in Mammoth Lakes, California, has witnessed the construction of an $8.5 million student housing complex, the South Gateway Student apartments. Rivaling any address you’re likely to find on four-year campuses, this facility boasts a state-of-the-art gym and swimming pool, as well as fireplaces, flat-screen TVs, a barbecue pit and stunning views of the Sherwin Mountains.

There’s a price tag to match, however: $750 per month for a share, $900 for a single.

Do Dorms Always Pay Off?

Those figures explain why so many community colleges are eager to break ground on dorms. More revenue allows schools to woo athletes and international students, demographics not usually associated with community colleges.

What does this mean for the future?

On-campus housing has the potential to upset the “commuter culture” mindset of many students and faculty. Community college is often derided as an oxymoron; there can be no real community on these campuses, the argument goes, when there’s no investment in student accommodations.

Accessible dorms create a social center around which college life revolves. Self-evident? Maybe, but nonetheless open to criticism.

Dorms are party pads that distract students from their academic obligations. They foster a self-enclosed world alienated from the “real” community beyond campus. They’re liabilities.

These are familiar counterpoints in the dorm debate. Whatever your opinion, one fact remains inarguable: dorms are encouraging community colleges to expand at an unprecedented rate.

For many students, this turns the dream of a college education into a reality.

Related Posts

1. Perks (and Pitfalls!) of Coed College Dorms
2. International Students: Consider a Community College
3. Benefits of Community Colleges

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