The Broward community college works with many high schools in Broward county to give students the opportunity to take free college classes. The program was created to try and help kids who will not be able to get a college education otherwise, have one. According to the 2016-2017 budget plan state funding has been cut over 50% since 2007.
While the Net Price for college in Florida is $17,520, the price of tuition for Broward community college is $8,882, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. This is a high tuition for a community college that does not provide room and board for students.
“Broward College modestly raised tuition for the first time in three years to support new programs,” states Sun Sentinel in a report about Broward College raising their tuition fees. Broward College President J. David Armstrong declined to comment.
High school students can use the dual enrollment program to graduate with their associates degree when they know they do not have the means to go to college and/or when they want to get ahead in class rankings.
Many people have mixed feelings about the dual enrollment program. According to Emma Spaide, a student from American University, dual enrollment can be helpful “if you are looking to graduate early,” but it may “disrupt the college experience.” Out of the 43,078 students that attend the community college, only about 30% of the students actually graduate, as reported by the National Center for Education Statistics.
Not only does the dual enrollment program change the college experience for high school students, but it also does so for the college students in the classes. “Some programs target students at risk of dropping out,” U.S News reported. It may be disrupting to the learning of college students who pay to be there when high school students take these classes.