Guest commentary: Government funding cuts, rising costs at community colleges impact students
By Anne Paul King
Think back to when you attended college. The costs were high, but not insurmountable. Community colleges were an option that offered post-secondary education close to home with affordable tuition.
Today, while education costs at community colleges are still low compared to four-year universities, it might be surprising to some that the amount needed to attend a community college is out of reach for many in Ventura County. And the costs of education and attending college continue to rise.
The Ventura College Foundation launched California’s very first Promise Program in 2007 to ensure eligible students receive two years of college tuition at no cost. Its success became the model for the statewide Promise Program. Since it began, the Ventura College Promise Program has helped more than 25,000 first-time, full-time local students overcome financial barriers and attend college tuition-free.
However, statewide budget cuts are putting the Ventura College Promise Program in jeopardy. In 2024–25 alone, the Ventura College Foundation stepped in with $158,000 in critical gap funding to sustain the program, supporting over 4,000 Ventura College students.
Why is this important to the well-being of not only students but also Ventura County and the surrounding counties?
In California, a community college graduate earns $11,000 more annually on average than someone with just a high school diploma.
Data shows that students who take part in the VC Promise Program are 70% more likely to complete their program of study, which proves that access truly impacts their livelihoods and career outcomes. An educated workforce bolsters our local economy and attracts new businesses.
Unfortunately, not having to worry about tuition is just one of the many economic issues facing today’s college students.
The Ventura College Basic Needs Centers in Ventura and at East Campus in Santa Paula were created to address the reality many students face beyond the classroom.
These centers support students experiencing food insecurity, housing instability, financial hardship, and mental health challenges.
Each location offers a free food pantry with weekly groceries, daily hot meals, and snacks. The Ventura campus center also provides hot showers, secure lockers, hygiene supplies, mental health and housing referrals, and other help.
The goal is to meet students’ most essential needs so they can focus on their education.
Basic Needs services are urgently needed: 49% of Ventura College students are low- or extremely low-income, 63% are food-insecure, and over 20% are housing-insecure. Last year, nearly one in five students relied on these services. The number is more critical this year. It’s estimated that more than 500 students use the Basic Needs Centers each day.
If community colleges are unable to offer these kinds of safety-net services, we risk losing students who are well into their associate’s and certification programs. We also put future students in jeopardy if adequate resources are not available to them.
Here in Ventura County, we are fortunate to have generous businesses and individuals who see the importance of education as a way to strengthen our local workforce, community and families.
Ventura College Foundation celebrated 14 of these remarkable innovators during a recent ceremony. These “Pirates of Distinction,” as we call them, provide the kind of dedication, generosity and inspiration that have made an immediate and long-lasting impact to help Ventura College students pursue their dreams.
What’s becoming clear in this unpredictable world is that community colleges must rely more and more on donors to provide the support and services students need for educational success. Colleges can no longer count on state or federal funding for these programs.
We are proud that Ventura College and the other community colleges in the county and beyond provide high-quality education to anyone who desires to pursue it, despite financial challenges. With the generous help of those who see education as essential, let’s hope we can continue to do so.
Anne Paul King is the executive director of the Ventura College Foundation. Email her at [email protected].
