Kristine
While they may not have a winning football team, on-campus dorms, or wild frat parties, community colleges have a lot more to offer than you might think. Whether you’re a senior in high school who feels unsure about attending a big university, someone who’s thinking about going back to school, or someone who simply wants to learn more about a particular subject, checking out the local community college might be a step in the right direction.
With the fall semester just around the corner, now is the time to register for classes if you’re interested in continuing your education. Here are just some of the advantages that your community college could provide:
Lower Tuition Rates
The most well-known benefit of community college comes down to cost. According to the National Society of High School Scholars, “community college tuition can be as little as around $3,500 per year, compared to up to around $35,000 for out of-state-students attending a public university.” Additionally, since most community colleges don’t have dorms on campus, students can also cut out expenses like housing and meal plans, which most university students have to factor into their overall budget.
Smaller Class Sizes
If you’ve ever seen a lecture hall at a 4-year university, you know how full these classes can be. Some general education classes, which are required for all students, can have hundreds of people in a single lecture! Furthermore, professors at research universities tend to be focused on their work outside of the classroom, leaving the majority of their teaching to their grad students.
Meanwhile, at community colleges, the average class size ranges from roughly 25-35 students, so you can benefit from one-on-one time with your professors. Another perk is that professors at community schools are hired specifically to teach; not to pursue research opportunities. You can rest assured knowing that you’ll be learning from an expert who genuinely enjoys teaching, not a nervous grad student.
Flexibility
Community colleges are ideal for people who want to build their class schedules around their family routine or continue working full-time while getting their education. From night classes to hybrid courses to 6-week programs, students can find unmatched flexibility based on their unique needs. Most traditional colleges are unable to offer the amount of leniency that community colleges provide.
Opportunities to Explore New Classes
According to The Hechinger Report, about 33% of students who declare a major end up changing their minds at least once, with about 10% switching their majors 2 or more times. Even more alarming is the fact that nearly 60% of people striving to earn bachelor’s degrees take more than 4 years to graduate. While there’s nothing necessarily wrong with changing your major or taking longer than expected to graduate, it can take a significant financial toll if you’re attending a private college.
If you’re not sure what you want to pursue, it can be helpful to take a variety of inexpensive classes at a community college instead of spending thousands of dollars at a traditional school. Instead of feeling pressured into declaring a major before you’re ready, you can feel free to take courses that genuinely interest you until you feel confident about your career path.
