Community colleges only provide your general education requirements and a few classes that might transfer toward your major field at a four year university. We clashed. ; Accessibility. Community College vs. University dilemma. College vs. University in the U.S. More One difference, experts say, is that universities offer both undergraduate and graduate programs, while many colleges focus solely on undergrads. I learned a lot in community college- like the fact that community college advisors are the worst advisors on earth, and make sure you are talking to the university you want to go to constantly to make sure that what you're taking actually transfers as a class you'll need. I didn't get too much financial aid from this college which sucks. According to a report from College Board, the grant aid to undergraduate students increased by … The decision to attend a community college instead of, or before, a four-year college is complicated and based on many factors. I'm going to school for mechanical engineering. Often times we hear negative opinions and comments about attending a community college instead of a university. I don't know I am confused. Absolutely yes. All of a sudden, my parents are almost forcing me to go to a nearby community college. Community College vs. University dilemma : personalfinance Live www.reddit.com Financially community college is the best option. There has been somewhat of a backlash against college lately. I just feel like, what was the point of me getting such good grades if I’m just going to go to community college... like why did I try so hard in high school just to be too scared to go to a university l? The main difference between a community college and a university centers on the fact that the former is a low-level higher educational institution while the latter is a high education institution that grants undergraduate degrees, specifically bachelor’s degree, and in most cases, graduate degrees such as master’s degrees and doctorate degrees. Universities are much larger than community colleges; some universities in the United States have over a hundred thousand students. View All 14 Slides. It’s definitely cheaper, and a great way to satisfy your prerequisites before transferring to an expensive four-year college to complete your major. This essay will discuss differences between community college and College. What is the difference? In all states, the average community college tuition is less than what is charged by public four-year colleges, and in 38 states, community college tuition is less than half as expensive. Most of you guys have helped me feel better about this so thanks a ton. Besides the time-frame needed to complete a degree, another big difference between a community college and a university is campus size. I am on the starting path to medical school and to save money I have been going to community college. Of course there are lots of factors to consider. This means I would have to stay at home for another two years. High school senior here, going to give as much background info as possible here. Though other factors are at play, graduating from a four-year college is one of the most surefire ways to increase your chances of employment and a higher income. So I chose to go to community college and stay with my mom. Community college vs. university: which is better? Community College Vs. University. I went to a state school in Texas, so the the money saved wasn't all that much between community college and the Univiersity (now if you want to go to a private university -- money will be an important factor). Debt. Since community colleges do not have as many students on campus this means there are less students to meet and fewer organized campus groups and activities. Compare college vs university costs, financial aid opportunities, and campus culture. Meet all financial aid and college application deadlines for colleges and universities you listed on the FAFSA. For example, a 2016 report from the Community College Research Center at Columbia University's Teachers College found that of the nearly 1.1 million students who enroll at two-year institutions each year, about 80 percent indicate their goal is to transfer and earn a bachelor's degree. I sure as hell don't want to do this but I know these two years will go by fast and I'll thank myself and parents later down the road. Community colleges are generally the least expensive way to take college-level courses. Although the amount of groups and clubs at community colleges are limit… Since the So.. I didn't go straight a 4-year university for personal reasons, and I felt like community college could give me a fresh start. Most people attend a two-year community college to fulfill their general education requirements and earn an associate's degree. I was super productive in high school and got a 4.1 unweighted gpa and a 4.6 weighted gpa. According to a Columbia University Research study done by Calcagno Bailey on the “Effects of Institutional Factors on the Success of Community College Students,” compared with students at small colleges, large classroom sizes were negatively correlated with student success rates. Especially higher priced institutions. I’m an introverted extrovert which is the hardest thing to be—I’m like dying to socialize and meet new people and join activities and do new stuff but my anxiety has the tightest grip on me in that aspect, especially. While unbridled tuition increases are a problem, there are indeed differences at different levels. Some of you have really helped me reinforce what I am going to be doing this fall, which will be attending a CC for two years then transferring. Ultimately, the name of the school isn’t that important. What are the similarities of it? A Community college and college have big differences and a lot of similarities. High school senior here, going to give as much background info as possible here. “When you think about people graduating with close to $35,000 in debt on average," Swaminathan says, “going to community college can be a smart financial decision." If I go to this community college, it would be probably a quarter of that. Yes, a degree from Harvard opens doors. On top of that, I recently lost my closest (and only) friend that is in my state. In contrast, young adults with only high school diplomas had an average median annual income of $30,000. Everything new is scary. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, young adults with bachelor’s degrees aged 25-34 had an average median annual income of $46,900 from 2000-2013. I almost don’t see myself living past my mid 20s because I just have so much maturing to do mentally. Starting with community college actually poses a number of benefits, from the financial to the practical. The Urban Institute Highlights • In fall 2014, 42% of all and 25% of full-time undergraduate students were enrolled in community colleges. Students at community colleges tend to perform much better than students starting out at four-year universities. Also, for those of us planning to attend universities, this is the perfect place to get your feet wet. I just cannot stand to think about basically two more years of high school by going to this community college. Yes. Tuition, room and board, and meal plans all add up to thousands of dollars a year that community college students don’t have to spend. But the classes you take at community college are the same as the classes you take at university, you just save money. It will also include the similarities between the both of them. Community colleges would not even offer those classes. Through some people experiences and research, there are many benefits to attending a community college … Community colleges are much more affordable. Now, my dad works at a college and I will be getting ~25k from them toward any college AFTER my sophomore year, which gets rid of the $10k scholarship. Choosing to go to community college first doesn't mean you were wasting your good grades from high school. So, when comparing community college vs. technical college, some aspects of the education are similar. This includes classes that focus on college-level reading and writing, mathematics, science and social science. Community colleges are quickly becoming a key competitor against four year universities – and for many good reasons! University VS College: Which one is better? Any comments welcome, not trying to hate on any form of educational path, just questioning my own. This is the third story in a four-part series about the transition between high school and "the real world" — whether that's college, university, the workforce or something completely different. Learn about why more students are opting to enroll in their local community college, rather than going straight to four year institutions. First off, community colleges are much, much cheaper. Emma Kerr, Reporter. Reasons to Attend a Community College vs. University. Across the country, community colleges have worked to ensure that their associate's degrees matc… But I loved the way we communicated when we were getting along. 2-3 years of CC will cost about as much as one year of uni (roughly). This will cover from the costs, teachers, living, amount of work, when your are in college. Community college is a lot less expensive than university. Some of the stigma comes from the contrast between a CC and a selective University. But only 14 percent earn a bachelor's degree within six years. Since community colleges offer flexible classes, it’s totally possible for students to go to school full-time while working on the side. The cost of higher education continues to rise — and financial aid isn’t keeping pace. Pros. According to several recent studies, students attending community colleges often participate in classroom discussion and experience one-on-one interaction with professors at a much higher rate than university students. I am already accepted into my first choice college (about 100 miles away from home) with a 10,000 a year scholarship, and have been planning to go since December. Despite being good in school, I’ve never been super confident in myself or my abilities, and after my father kicked me out of his house and I moved into my moms house, I just can’t see myself living on my own. Pretty soon I will have to start going to a university and taking higher level sciences there. They have smaller classes, and they are much more convenient than universities. Okay, so I am currently enrolled in my local community college full time and my first day starts on Monday. I am already accepted into my first choice college (about 100 miles away from home) with a 10,000 a year scholarship, and have been planning to go since December. This is probably the worst possible outcome from all of this, as I have NO desire to stay at home and drive ~40 mins to and ~40 mins back from this community college. A community college will offer you comfort and a very tight-knit sense of community, a refreshing perk. That’s almost a $17,000 dollar difference and a 62% increa… We weren’t made for each other, we were too similar in some ways, and way too different in other ways. Pros. Community College: Friendly and fundamental, but narrow-scoped. The exact cost will depend upon residency requirements, what types of classes you choose to take, and financial aid considerations, but many students will save money at a community college compared to an average four-year school. I’m sort of selfish in a way. I am currently doing my degree in community college and I have a doubt if I get my scores between 145 to 150 can I transfer to university with these scores. Updated on July 14, 2020: This article has been updated with new information. I will have no friends because they are all leaving this fall. So right now I'm attending a community college, with hopes to transfer to a 4-year university. However, one of the biggest community college benefits is its cost compared to four-year universities. The College Board . Not so broken up about the friendship falling apart as I am about not having someone to talk to like that, which is why I think I’m somewhat selfish. Or do you think I made the right choice? Thanks. Cost. They are called two-year colleges for a reason. college students in 2008 earned a College Board Research Research Brief April 2016 Trends in Community Colleges: Enrollment, Prices, Student Debt, and Completion Jennifer Ma Sandy Baum . Really, thank you all. I guess what I’m wondering is, do you think going to a university straight out of high school would have been beneficial? I can't tell you which one's best, but yes there are differences. Deciding on whether to attend a community college or a university can be a very tough decision. ... help Reddit App Reddit coins Reddit premium Reddit gifts. However, many students find that the benefits to technical education outweigh what a community college can offer. And now I just hang out with my mom. When you done with lower division ge classes and you transfer to university as a junior, you'll be taking upper division core classes for your major which can be tougher for some people. I'm doing very well so far in CC, as I'm understanding … However, costs outside of tuition and fees represent a significant portion of the total cost of enrolling in college and do not vary considerably by sector. Pick the school that’s right for you. EDIT: Thanks all!! I also stayed at a local community college and therefore stayed at my parents house. So, I would probably be in ~$100k in debt once I graduate, parents can't really do much to help. These general credits can then be transferred to a four-year college to earn a bachelor's degree. Level sciences there one year of uni ( roughly ) have been going to this community college is and... 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