Community college should be more than just free For Biden's community college plan to work, students are going to need a holistic system of support. By David L. Kirp Text size Copy shortlink: Free community college for everyone is the centerpiece of President Joe Biden's $302 billion, 10-year investment in expanding access to higher education. Though it has been hailed as a revolutionary proposal, this walking-through-the-door access doesn't solve higher education's biggest challenge — boosting the number of community college students who graduate or transfer to a four-year school. As one undergraduate said: "Anyone can get into college. The challenge is staying in college."