The Benefits of Community College
By: Adrianna Ngo
Applying to college can be very stressful, especially if you are unsure what colleges you should apply to and which will be a good fit for you.
A lot of people are pressured to attend a four year college and have the stereotypical dorming experience. However, attending a university isn’t the best case for everyone. It is important to understand that everyone is different and diverse.
Many people believe that community college is a better fit for them. However, there tends to be a negative stigma surrounding community college, even though there are many benefits.
Here are some examples of why going to community college can be beneficial.
Saving Money
Community college is significantly cheaper than attending a four year institution. According to the American Association of Community Colleges, the average yearly cost of tuition for students attending a community college is approximately $3,347. This is much cheaper compared to $9,139, the average cost of tuition for a four year college.
Quality Education
In addition to saving money, community college provides quality education to many students. In fact, most community colleges require their professors to have at least a Master’s Degree to teach. Yet, many people believe that community college doesn’t offer the best education. This is false and there are actually many well-educated professors that care about their student’s education at community college.
Flexible Scheduling
Many students don't recognize that community college offers a variety of classes that can fit a schedule to their liking. If you plan on working while simultaneously attending school, community college is a very good route. This is because many community colleges offer night classes and have flexible class options. In addition, community college classes tend to have lighter workloads as well.
Transition Opportunities
If you want to save money for two years and then transfer to a four-year institution for the remainder of your college career, community college is the way to go. Community colleges are a great way to get general education requirements out of the way while transitioning to a college workload.
A four year college may not be the right fit for everyone. A great alternative is community college. There are many benefits to attending a community college. For example, they are a great cost for the education, their schedules are flexible, and for students who aren’t sure what they want to do, they can continue to explore their interests without the pressure of a high tuition. Continuing education is always a good fit, be a lifetime learner with the flexibility and cost savings of community college.