Community Colleges nationwide have seen a 30% drop in enrollment, which college officials say is due to hardships caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Locally, the colleges are reporting much smaller drops in enrollment. Cabrillo College in Santa Cruz reports an 18 percent drop in enrollment, initially expected to be larger.
At Monterey Peninsula College, there has been a 14% drop in enrollment compared to last year.
The colleges report that the cause for the enrollment drop is likely due to struggles with the digital divide, accessibility, and financial hardships among the students.
Online learning has been particularly challenging for students who are learning English as a second language.
