Community college has historically been painted as the more flexible, affordable option for higher education. However once the rest of the bill begins to stack up, the price of tuition can take a serious toll on students. From gas to groceries, living in the Golden State is a high price that few can afford.
An article from the financial advice company Unbiased.com breaks down the average costs for housing, groceries, transportation and even taxes. The annual average cost of living within California is $53,082, with the cost rising higher in areas with denser populations — areas such as the Bay Area.
Within Alameda County, 9,747 individuals experienced homelessness in 2022, as reported by the Alameda County Health Housing and Homelessness Services. Of these individuals, 242 were located in the city of Livermore.
With fundamental means of survival being threatened and the cost of living on the rise, Las Positas College (LPC) has made multiple resources available for students. These programs are here to meet students where they need it, whether that is at home providing for their family or funding their seats in the classroom.
In order to better assist students, LPC has a basic needs resource center located in room 1643, home to the campus Mini Market. The Mini Market is a free market for students to get groceries and other basic necessities. Along with their main building, there are various Mini Market stations located around the campus including the library, tutoring center, Dream Center, 2500 building, Black Cultural Resource Center, 3400 building, and the computer lab.
At the Basic Needs Center, they provide vital resources such as hearty food, snacks, school supplies, diapers, laundry supplies and more. On top of this, there is also The Market, a monthly event held on campus where students can get free fresh and canned goods. The event is held on the fourth Tuesday of every month in the 1600 building courtyard.
In addition to focusing on students’ basic needs, LPC has been moving towards zero-cost textbooks as part of its curriculum. The recent closure of the campus bookstore has amplified the push for zero-cost textbooks. LPC President Dr. Dyrell Foster considered this when deciding the fate of the bookstore and how that would affect students on campus.
“I know that students are resourceful in terms of being able to obtain textbooks,” Foster said. “And so that didn’t seem like a feasible model for us, especially since we’re moving to a lot of zero-cost textbooks as well.”
In 2017, there was a program passed under Assembly Bill 19 called the California Promise. By setting aside $46 million for the state’s community colleges, the program intended to help students afford college. This led to 116 colleges offering free tuition on their campuses in the spring semester of 2023, according to an EdSource article written by Joshua Picazo.
The money was not limited to tuition — schools could choose to put the funding into other programs that would help students achieve their academic goals. The California Promise is a part of Vision 2030, which is defined by the California Community Colleges chancellor’s office as “a collaborative action plan that provides focus, equity, and direction to our community colleges.”
LPC is one of the community colleges that used the funding to offer free tuition to qualifying students. There are actually two “promise” grants clarified by Kevin Harral
Director of Financial Aid at LPC: the Las Positas College Free Tuition 1st Year and 2nd Year Promise, a program created by LPC and funded by the state. To qualify for this program, new students must be enrolled full-time. If a new student is in this program and passes all of their classes, they will qualify for a second year of free tuition. However, the promise does not waive all of the costs for attending students, only the $46 per unit enrollment fee.
The second is the California College Promise Grant (CCPG), which has criteria set by the California Community College Chancellor’s Office on an as-needed basis. In order to qualify, a student must have been rejected by the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) along with other qualifications listed on the LPC financial aid website.
While such efforts are in place to help lower costs for students, there are still hurdles that many students must overcome. Tuition is not the only cost for students, as there is also transportation to campus, books and other materials for classes, parking and more. All of these additional costs can take a toll on any student’s wallet.
Still, there are a multitude of options for financial aid available for students to apply to. One of the resources is a breakdown of the estimated cost of attendance for students, both residents and non-residents. This resource can be found on LPC’s financial aid page, along with grant applications and scholarships.
Students looking for help with financial aid can reach out to Anthony Haskett, LPC’s new Financial Aid Outreach Specialist. Another option is to visit the financial aid office located in room 1650. Walk-ins are welcomed, and there are even computers there so students can complete the process on-site with assistance from staff.
While the cost of living in California continues to rise, students are having to balance their basic survival needs with furthering their education. There are resources available at LPC but it is up to the individual students to learn how to utilize the resources that are best for them.
TOP ILLUSTRATION: Community college is a cheaper route. But, in California especially, the costs add up. (Art by Mel Llamas/ The Express)
Mel Llamas is a staff writer for The Express. Follow him on X, formally Twitter, @MM_Llamas
