Discover the advantages of community colleges and it can be your best alternative to continue your higher education. Entering the university is the goal of many students who are finishing high school, but several factors can intervene so that this does not happen.
A good alternative to continue with higher education is to enroll in a community college. These institutions of higher education have programs that can be completed in just two years compared to the four years required in many universities. On the other hand, community colleges are smaller, and their cost is much lower when compared to a university.
Advantages of community colleges:
• They do not require an admission exam.
• Offer English as a second language class.
• They facilitate the transfer to a university that provides a baccalaureate degree if you wish to continue studying.
• They grant an associate degree diploma.
In total, eight million students (45% of university students in the United States) attend community colleges that offer two-year careers. It does not require entrance exams or high marks to enter, and that grant graduates a degree technician who is known as an associate degree.
These institutions offer a mix of academic and job training courses, as well as intensive English and support courses for students who are not prepared to work at the university level. Community colleges share a culture similar to university colleges that teach four-year degrees.
Lower tuition costs
Attending a community college is the reduced tuition cost. Students who plan to transfer to a four-year degree program can take basic classes at the university and save money on a bachelor’s degree. A bachelor’s degree program at a university or college can cost $ 100,000 or more, depending on the program and the selected institution. Tuition costs at a community college are far from being so expensive, and even cheaper for city and state residents.
Some community colleges charge less than public faculties with four-year programs: $ 3,130 on average per tuition and expenses per academic year, in contrast to $ 8,660 from a four-year college. It is a very economical price, especially if the students manage to transfer to a university that counts the academic credits of the community colleges just like theirs.
Concepts
The community college concept was developed in the United States around the beginning of the 20th century. A community college can also be referred to as a technical school, college or university in the city, depending on the state in which they are in. These universities offer diploma, certificate, and associate degree programs for a diversified range of courses. Some of these courses include law enforcement, nursing, firefighting, and technology fields. A community college prepares students for transfer to a four-year degree program and offers training, staff development, and credit transfer.
