Community Colleges?... GED?

Why do community colleges not offer 4 year degree programs?

• Before people start spaming the OMG YOU ARE STUPID comments, at least hear me out. I was a high school drop out who got a GED and went a community college. I am now in my final semester of the CSU breadth and have finished all my lower division classes (yes, all at community colleges). I would have never gotten into a university had it not been for the community college system. I'm not saying that everyone belongs in college, perhaps I am saying that everyone at least deserves the chance. I'm also not saying that the community college system is perfect (I've had my share of terrible teachers, but I've also had very good ones) either. What I'm asking is if the entire idea (well the MAIN goal) of the community college system is to get people junior level transfers to a university, then why even have the university? It costs me 36 dollars a unit at all the community colleges I attend, according to the fees section of the state university (that I am going to attend) it costs around 1600 for 6 units and about 1900 for more than 6 units; not to mention, the 154 dollar parking ticket. I don't understand why we have a for-profit university system that has SUB PAR educational standards (as an example, look at devry's "Game and Simulation program", they "prepare" students to design games and simulations but don't even require one semester of calculus or one semester of calculus based physics. I'm almost entirely sure that people would be better off spending their money at a community college (where their classes are transferable to almost any university, none the less) then at a place where you have to pay 8k a trimester. If given the choice, I would have STILL transfered to a state university (as I believe they have a higher quality of education), but I realize many don't have that option. Sure there are student loans and grants, but not everyone wants to be in debt and is eligible for grants. So what's the reason why they don't make some 4 year degree program with only a community college education? I'm saying they should offer upper division requirements at the CC, but still keep the requirements.

• Answer:

  As you have noted, the cost to the taxpayers to subsidize the higher levels would be a bit cost prohibitive. The state university also costs more because it has higher expenses (like an electron microscope for example) and it has a lower level of subsidy from the taxpayers. Also remember that some jr. college profs get paid less because they might only have a masters degree as opposed to a university where essentially all profs have a doctorate degree.