Community college is the fastest growing sector of higher education, and 30% of US students are enrolled in the public 2-year programs community colleges offer. But as students dive into building lists of colleges they hope to apply to, the community college option is still often missed. Community colleges deserve more attention, and for some students, they can be the perfect launching pad into their education.
Community colleges not only offer a way to save money – the number one concern for parents with children entering college – but they also offer a chance to maintain optionality while students decide what education or career path is right for them. Below are four top reasons to consider community college as part of your college applications:
Save Money while Earning Credits
The average annual cost of community college tuition and fees comes in at $3,860 while public in-state college tuition and fees average $10,940, and private college fees, for top tier universities like Vanderbilt, can be nearly $100,000.
Community college can also help families save money in other ways: students may decide to commute, saving money on room and board, and students may find more time to work, earning more money.
Explore Career Paths
80% of college students change their major at least once. Committing to a four-year college, and even a major, is a big decision to make as soon as senior year of college when college applications go out. Four-year colleges are a big commitment with a high price tag, and for students who are still exploring their options, a little more flexibility may be beneficial. With community college, students can sample a broad variety of classes, more easily change their path of study, and fit other career-exploration opportunities, like an internship, outside of their coursework, so that they can be confident with their choice.
Moreover, community college offers a path to many rewarding and high-earning careers that four year colleges don’t: air traffic controllers ($137,380 annual salary), nuclear technicians ($101,740 annual salary) and radiation therapists ($98,300 annual salary) are just a few of the jobs community college grads have access to!
Maintain a Flexible Schedule
43% of community college students are employed full-time! Employment is one way to develop new skills, try out career paths, and earn money. But there’s no doubt the flexibility of community college allows students to fit more into their schedules: internships, community service, apprenticeships, the arts, athletics, and more. Night, weekend, and online classes make it possible for students to make college work with the schedule that’s right for them.
Easily Transfer to a Four-Year College
Many students — 80% — pursue community college with the goal of transferring their credits to a four year college and reaping the benefits of community college along the way. While it’s not a guarantee — especially for low income and minority students who face lower transfer and graduation rates — 31% of community college students do transfer and 14% earn a Bachelor's within 6 years. For a student committed to the four-year college path, community college offers the option, with many partnering with state schools and in some cases even guaranteeing admission for community college graduates who meet GPA requirements.
Still weighing up the pros and cons of community college? Why not have a conversation with people who have been there, done that? Book a consultation with a Hermiona expert today!
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