Community colleges typically do not feature extracurricular programs or expansive infrastructure and benefit from less overhead. Many community colleges receive government funds to subsidize costs.
Benefits of Attending Community College
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More and more students benefit from community college each year. A National Center for Education Statistics study showed undergraduate community college enrollment grew 26% in 2000-2018.
Community colleges offer an accessible way for students from varying educational and financial backgrounds to achieve their career goals. Some students who attend community college even transfer their associate degree to a traditional college to complete a bachelor’s degree.
Attending community college presents many benefits. These schools allow students with low high school GPAs to build quality transcripts to prepare for a traditional four-year college with competitive acceptance rates. These two-year colleges offer an affordable way to complete general education courses before transferring to a college with higher tuition.
Community college benefits students uninterested in a four-year university as well. When applying for jobs that do not require a college diploma, associate degree-holders may experience a competitive edge. Keep reading to learn more about the benefits of attending community college and helpful resources.
Students Attending Community College Common Questions
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Why are community colleges so cheap?
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Is community college easier than university?
Community colleges offer quality academic courses that challenge students to expand their knowledge. The difficulty varies by course level and instructor.
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Do community colleges accept everyone?
Most community colleges offer open-access acceptance, meaning they accept all applicants. This allows students with a low high school GPA to improve their academic status before applying to a traditional college or university.
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Does community college look bad on a resume?
Employers view an associate degree from an accredited community college as legitimate. Other employers may require a bachelor’s degree with at least two years completed at a traditional university.
Who Is Community College For?
These locally funded schools provide affordable tuition to in-state certificate or associate students. Community colleges generally charge out-of-state students higher tuition. These inclusive institutions welcome students of various ages and backgrounds. Most community colleges boast affordable tuition and high acceptance rates, so anyone with a GED or high school diploma can attend.
Community college often appeals to three main groups: individuals who want to transfer credits to a bachelor’s program, students who want to enter the workforce with an associate degree, and learners who want to attend recreationally. Take a look at the articles below to learn how community college benefits these three groups.
Why You Should Attend Community College for Transfer Credits
Why You Should Attend Community College for a Degree
Why You Should Attend Community College for Fun
Community College Resources
Just like any learner, community college students can benefit from many resources. These links offer help with locating financial aid, finding the best school, and understanding the transfer process.
- Financial Aid for Online Colleges This webpage features details on loans, grants, and scholarships specifically for online students. Find information about scholarships for nearly any major. The site also includes posts on how to save for college, reduce costs on materials like textbooks, and calculate educational expenses.
- Finding the Best Online Community Colleges Online learning allows students to attend a community college in any region. With so many options, the selection process may overwhelm some people. This webpage assists by ranking the top 10 community colleges. Affordable Colleges Online calculates these rankings with data including graduate success rates, accreditation status, and cost.
- Guide to Financial Aid and Scholarships This guide provides data on the average college costs and discusses various types of financial aid and scholarships. Learn about grants and federal loans, and which types of aid require repayment. This page also discusses work-study opportunities, fellowships, and subsidized and unsubsidized loans.
- How College Transfers Work After completing a few credits or an entire associate degree at a community college, learners can earn a bachelor's degree in two more years. This webpage covers the admission process and important questions to ask before transferring.
- How to Find Online Colleges That Accept Transfer Credits Finding a fully online degree that accepts transfer credits takes some time. This article presents a list of helpful research prompts and lists a step-by-step process for transferring to an online college.
- How to Return to and Finish College Sometimes, life requires students to take a break from their studies. This guide outlines how to finish college after an academic dismissal or an extended absence. You will find expert advice, including tips on readjusting to college life and schools that offer re-entry resources.
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