What are the pros and cons to remedial math classes in college?

If you need a remedial math class in college, it usually won't count as a credit towards completion of your degree. If you don't need a remedial math course, you probably won't be allowed to take one! If your major is not "math intensive", you could take the most basic math course that meets the general education requirement - usually there's no need for a history major, for example, to take advanced calculus!

The pro to taking it if you need it is that it prevents you from taking math classes you are not ready for. The con is that it means you are essentially paying college prices to take the equivalent of high school math classes.

If you're not ready for college level math, you'll fail the course over and over again and waste your time and money. The remedial classes exist to get you ready for college math.

If your math is not strong enough to go directly into a college math course, then a remedial course may help you ease into that college math course. Of course it isn't free, and probably is not worth college credit.