The Forum

ST. LOUIS — Between classes, work shifts and rising expenses, many community college students say stress has become part of their daily routine.

At local campuses across the St. Louis area, counseling services are seeing more students schedule appointments, reflecting a broader national trend in student mental health concerns.

Students at colleges say the cost of textbooks continues to create financial stress, even as the college works to keep tuition affordable. While community colleges are often viewed as a lower-cost pathway to higher education, students report that required books, online access codes, and course materials can add hundreds of dollars to their semester expenses. As inflation affects everyday necessities such as food, gas, and housing, textbook costs are becoming a more visible concern across campuses.