Community College Education vs. Four-year Universities

The financial factor of getting higher education is a big issue for most students. As I mentioned in my introduction, tuition fees in community colleges are a great deal cheaper than those of universities without sacrificing the quality of education that you will be getting. For example, teachers in community colleges are required to have doctorate degrees just like the teachers in universities and from my experience, my community college had some of the best teachers I ever had. In addition, my teachers were able to pay more attention to my needs as a student because they were not caught up in doing research which most universities require for their faculty.

In addition to getting more value for your buck, community colleges are in your community which means that you can live at home (or close to it) if you want to save on gas, rent, and food money. All these expenses add up which means you can save a lot of money during your first two years of school. When you choose this option, you are not only saving on your current expenses but possibly on your future ones as well. How? You might need to take out a student loan for those necessary expenses so that when the time comes to pay the loan back, you are charged additional interest fees on top of the money you borrowed.

Take for example what could have been the cost for my first year attendance if I went straight to a four-year university compared to a community college:

Fee Description	First 2 years in Community College	Straight to a Four-year University
Tuition Fees	$21.00/unit x 36 units = $756.00	$240.00/unit x 36 units = $8,640.00
Room and Board	$4,120.00	$7,483.00
Books and Supplies	$1,206.00	$1,544.00
Transportation	$990.00	$1,413.00
Grand Total	$7,072.00	$19,080.00

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The basis for comparison for the table values are for a student who goes to a community college while living at home and a student who goes to a four-year university while leaving close to campus (e.g. very little driving/commute time). Your actual cost may vary based on many factors such as school location, school type, miscellaneous school fees etc.

In general, you can save an average of $12,000 (may be lower or higher) a year if you go to a community college first. As a result, you would have approximately $24,000.00 less in student loans when you graduate.

In addition to financial benefits, there are also social benefits involved when it comes to attending community colleges. Because of their smaller campuses and classes, community colleges are a perfect place to meet new people. This provides a more intimate setting for their students compared to the huge classes that are usually offered at four-year universities. If you are one of those students who need a friendlier transition from high school to college, you may consider going to a community college first.

I was looking for a similar kind of transition when I first started thinking of going to college. Although my situation can be a little different since I was really trying to transition between a foreign school system and the American school system (but the logic is the same). Going to a community college, for me, was like riding the bike with the training wheels on. I was not fully ready to take on the university life but I was willing to start somewhere. In the end, I knew I made a great decision because I met a bunch of new friends who shared similar goals and aspirations as I did. Until today, I still stay in contact with them and they are some of my most reliable and loyal friends in the world (I really mean that).

I met most of my friends in my classes or organizations that I belonged to. As a result, they also became my study buddies. I can tell you that these people are some of the smartest, motivated people I have ever met. I was also able to relate to them because, just like me, they want to do their best in order to transfer to a four-year university despite whatever bumps they may encounter along the way. And so, we taught helped each other with school work, understanding concepts, developing great study habits , etc. Having these experiences greatly helped me with my student success up until I went to a four year university.

Photo by UBC Library Graphics

The community college is also great for people who are exploring their alternatives. For example, you are unsure of which career path you want to take or may be a commitment to a four-year program seems overwhelming. There are many vocational programs that are offered at community colleges. You can either enroll in short courses if you want to 'try it out' to see if you will like it OR you can enroll in their two-year associate degree programs if you want to get out of school faster and make money sooner. There are a wide-array of options available to you as long as you're willing to do some work.

Once you are ready to take on greater challenges, going to a four-year university is the next natural step. The university experience is a totally different experience altogether and it has its own advantages. When you are ready to take off the training wheels off of your bike, you will find that the university gives you the freedom and responsibilities of being an adult (which can be great and not so great at the same time). Although the costs are higher, having that bachelor's degree from a reputable institution increases the probability that you will find a job faster while also increasing your earning potential.

Remember that employers and graduate schools do not usually frown upon which school you attended during your earlier years in college. However, they do look at your achievements and successes which are more important factors in predicting how well you will perform in their company or academic program(s).

Whichever college system you choose, you would never go wrong with your choice of getting a higher education. If you want to look at research that study the benefits of getting a college education follow this link and imagine how bright your future can be.

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