LOS ANGELES, Sept. 7 (Xinhua) -- Due to the weak economy, more and more high school graduates and mid-career adults are flocking to cheaper community colleges this fall, it was reported on Sunday.

    Students are banking on these modest workhorses of California's higher education system to ease their way through the economic downturn, opting for the closer, cheaper alternatives to state universities, the Los Angles Times said.

    Older students, in particular, are seeking training at two-year colleges to escape declining industries, the report said.

    It is estimated that enrollment jumps of six percent to 15 percent this fall at California's 110 two-year campuses, where about 2.7 million students take courses, many of them part time, according to the paper.

    Administrators say that when the economy dips, enrollment at community colleges typically surges.

    A community college is far more affordable than a university, the former offering a unit for 20 dollars and the latter 500 dollars each.

    High unemployment rates are a significant driver in this enrollment increase, according to the paper.

    Bread-and-butter considerations also play into decisions to go to two-year colleges, with students viewing a school close to home as a way to save on gas and rent, as well as tuition, said the paper.

    In addition, undocumented students who can't get financial aid also rely on community colleges, the paper said.