Community colleges are the fastest growing segment of American higher education – and some say the most vital to America’s future – offering a staggering array of classes and job training programs. But growing enrollment is straining the system, underfunding persists, and in spite of some remarkable success stories, the colleges fail to graduate even half of those who come.

Veteran correspondent and Hewlett Foundation grantee John Merrow explores the paradoxes of these vital institutions in this documentary, Discounted Dreams.

To learn when Discounted Dreams airs on your local PBS channel, click here.