"Across Massachusetts, students are flocking to two-year public colleges, which have become refuges in the recession. The schools have open enrollment for most programs, and tuitions markedly cheaper than four-year private or public institutions. Students who earn an associate's degree at a two-year college can usually transfer the credits to four-year schools," the Boston Globe reports. "The colleges also offer a range of vocational programs, which attract older students who may be unemployed or worried about losing their jobs. According to the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education, enrollment has risen almost 11 percent this year in the state's community college system."