What to Consider When Deciding Whether to Attend a Community College

The following should be considered when deciding whether to attend a community college:

• Do you know what your academic or career goals are, or are you unsure what course of study you want to pursue? Community colleges have the resources to help students identify areas of career interest and set realistic goals. You can explore a variety of associate degree, college transfer, or technical-occupational programs, as well as a variety of non-degree programs
• Can you afford to attend a four year college all four years? Tuition and fees at community colleges are lower than at four year colleges and universities. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, the estimated average cost of tuition and fees at public two year colleges nationwide for the 1995-school year was $1,245, compared to an estimated average of $2,848 at four year colleges. If cost is a concern, you can attend your local community college for the first two years and then transfer to a four year college to complete your baccalaureate degree.
• Are you interested in finding employment in a specialized, technical field that may not require a four year degree? You can pursue a course of study that leads to the associate degree in such technical fields as business, health occupations, and trade and industry education. You can decide to pursue a four year degree after you have earned the associate degree. Two year colleges often have complementary arrangements that allow their programs to correspond.
• Do you need to master basic academic skills before you can pursue college coursework? For students who want to pursue college coursework but who lack the basic reading, writing, mathematics, or science skills necessary to take college-level courses, the community college offers developmental education classes. These classes are designed to prepare students to pursue college coursework by strengthening these skills
• Do you have family and employment responsibilities to maintain while you work toward a college degree? Many two year college students maintain full or part time employment while they earn their degrees. To meet the needs of their students, most community colleges offer classes at night or on weekends. Of course, the length of time it takes to obtain an associate degree depends on the courseload students maintain: the fewer credits they earn per term, the longer it takes to earn a degree.
• Do you want to attend a college that is conveniently located and community oriented? Most public, two year colleges are community based and accessible to all residents in the surrounding area. As a result, community colleges have strong ties to the communities they serve. Many community colleges have established links with high schools and community groups, particularly through school-to-work programs, and many have made cooperative arrangements with employers that can provide job opportunities and experience for students both before and after they graduate.
• Do you want to learn in an environment in which teaching is of primary importance? Faculty members at community colleges are known for their excellent teaching and for attending to students and their individual academic needs, regardless of age, sex, race, current job status, or previous academic preparation.

This information first appeared in The ERIC Review, volume 5 issue 3, as "Community College Checklist" by Tronie Rifkin.

updated

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