Chapter 2: Role of Community Colleges

Benefits of Attending Community College

• Tuition Cost: Attending a community college for the first two years of a four-year degree will significantly reduce the cost of the baccalaureate degree. Tuition at community colleges is significantly less than at four-year universities and colleges, particularly for in-state residents.
• Room and Board: Universities charge thousands of dollars a semester for room and board. The money saved by living at home and going to the local community college can help pay for tuition at the four-year university.
• Flexible Course Schedules: Daytime, evening, weekend, and online courses are available to accommodate students' work schedules.
• Smaller Class Sizes: The average class at a community college has fewer than 30 students. Students are more likely to receive regular one-on-one attention from their instructors.
• Faculty-Student Interaction: Full-time community college faculty spend more hours in the classroom than faculty in any other higher education institution. Unlike a research university, the instructors have more time to focus primarily on teaching. Most community college instructors have years of experience in their area of expertise.
• Explore Options: Students can explore all areas of interest before choosing a major.
• Strong Foundation: Students are able to take developmental courses or programs to help them build a stronger foundation before advancing in their course of study.
• Skill Building and Job Advancement: Students can take continuing education courses to meet specific needs and interests for job advancement, job placement, and personal development.
• Earn an Associate Degree: Associate of Arts (A.A.), Associate of Science (A.S.), Associate in Applied Arts (A.A.A.), or an Associate in Applied Science (A.A.S.).
• Transfer Credits: You can take your preparatory core classes at a community college and then transfer to a four-year college or university for more degree specific coursework.
• Higher Wages: People who have been to college and received a degree earn considerably more than people who do not have a college degree.

Information Derived from:

Sallie Mae. (2000-2010). Community college: Benefits. College Answer: The Planning for College Destination. Retrieved from http://www.collegeanswer.com/selecting/content/sel_cc_ben.jsp

Collegeboard.com. (n.d.). Six benefits of community colleges: It might be the right path for you. Retrieved from http://www.collegeboard.com/student/csearch/where-to-start/8169.html

Cohen, A. M. & Brawer, F. B. (2008). The American community college, 5th ed. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.