It is a serious challenge when one has a student with average ( defined by national averages, not CC’s) and below, with no hooks , and a small budget. The Easy and ready answer is a nearby state school. Commute. Community college and then transfer to nearby state school.
There are problems with this solution, as well. Many students are seriously handicapped staying at home, in an environment detrimental to academic accomplishment. I’m working with a cousin’s child right now it’s this situation. His best alternative by far, in fact, the best chance of getting out of his rut and finishing college is to go away to school. But that isn’t supported by family and infrastructure. He is in a family that has done abysmally in terms of even finishing highschool. A lot of family problems. Friends and contacts are not into college. The pull towards an easier life right there is very tempting. The idea of going far away for college is terrifying and not likely to happen. Not supported by friends and family at all. Kid who is actually above average in academic achievement is likely to end up at community college. Chances not good that he’ll transfer to the only barely affordable option that is within commuting distance. Commuting is going to be a tremendous pain, challenge and expense.
In this case , by far the best venue would be a residential college wher student can stay and start a whole new life. All of my kids had that opportunity. They were raised to include that option. This cousin has not been so taught. Seen it happen repeatedly with other family members who could not endure the trouble of commit to college tired of feeling poor, being left out of peer activities. I get it. I’m really hoping to find a school not too far, within several hours where he can bloom where planted. Not a commuter school, suitcase school or where he’d be in a tiny minority of out of area students. The challenge is finding an affordable choice. Why would a school give this student a tuition waiver? There are no public schools that will fill this niche.
I live in NY where a lot of students can get a tuition waiver, some from the Excalibur Scholarshio. Tuition is reasonable and mostly covered by Direct loan or scull Pell sbd state finds also in the picture. But not for room and board. You gotta live with family and commute. Too bad if atmosphere is toxic for commuting.
My son with low test scores , good grades and full pay ended up with a lot of alternatives. His cousin who need money didn’t have nearly as many choices from loverlappung schools. Money makes a huge difference in this scenario. I don’t know how this can be addressed. To pay someone’s living expenses is an enormous expense and not likely to happen any time soon. Free college proposals tend to mean free in state public commutable alternatives.