Community Colleges

Community colleges are excellent schools for many students. These colleges provide many benefits and options to people looking into higher education. First, let us look at a few statistics. Few people know about the high volume of community colleges and students attending those schools in this country. A recent census calculated that there are 1,166 community colleges in the United States. That is an average of just over 23 for each state. There is also an incredibly large amount of students at these colleges. At the time of the census, 10.4 millions students, or 44 percent of all undergraduate students, were attending community colleges.
Community colleges have many benefits. One of the greatest benefits is the low cost of tuition. The average cost for one year of tuition at a community college is $1,518. Compare this with the tuition of private schools and you can save a lot of money very quickly. This allows many people to attend college who otherwise wouldn’t be able to afford it. Another benefit is availability. With the large amount of community colleges in the country, chances are there is one near your location. Close locations allow students to live at home if they choose, which allows them to save even more money. Also, admissions policies for these schools are very open, allowing almost anyone to attend if they choose.
Community colleges also give students many options. Almost half of all community college students have full-time jobs. These schools allow people to work around their schedules and obtain an education. For example, a person might be working full-time during the day and working toward a degree by taking classes at night. Another person might just want to take a few classes to gain skills for their job or to help them get a promotion. Many people will also work part-time and go to school part-time, allowing them to pay their way through school. Finally, there are also options available to students once they earn their two-year degree. They can get a job with their degree, continue their education at a four-year school, or do a combination of both.
There are a few things you need to watch out for if you decide to attend a community college. The most important thing is to know which schools will accept your credits when you transfer. You don’t want to work hard to get credits for your classes only to find out they will not transfer to the four-year school you want to attend. Most community colleges will have agreements with area four-year schools as to which classes will transfer. Make sure to check with your school when you register for classes.
Community colleges are often overlooked as a serious option for graduating seniors. There is no shame in attending one of these schools. Many of these colleges have wonderful faculty that can make the learning experience an enjoyable one. So take a minute to consider a community college in your area. It may be exactly what you’re looking for.