Community colleges and career technical education programs are experiencing a surge in enrollment, marking a recovery in higher education participation. However, financial pressures persist among students, especially those from low-income backgrounds attending two-year institutions. Challenges including insufficient financial aid, food insecurity, and long working hours threaten student retention and success. Recent federal regulatory changes reducing social safety nets heighten these concerns, underscoring the precarious balancing act faced by community college students striving to remain enrolled.