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If you are graduating from school in a year or so, chances are that all your thoughts are currently busy with all the planning for college. These days, going to college is a necessity if you want to be prepared for the future and build a successful career. We all know this. But there is always this one thing that gets in the way – the high cost of higher education.
It shouldn’t be a secret to anybody that attending college is expensive. The overall cost of your education depends on a variety of factors. Of course, if you’re lucky to win a scholarship or prefer to get help with essay writing for cheap, you can save some money. But, one way or another, it is a major expense that can be hard to afford.
Thinking about the high cost of education, many young people decide that community college is the right option for them because such schools are considered to be much cheaper. But is it really so? In this article, an expert from a trusted essay service will help us figure this out.
In This Post:
Community College: Potential Savings
So, can you really save money by choosing a two-year community college over a traditional four-year college or university? The short answer is yes; you can save money by taking this path. The reason for this is the low cost of tuition and fees at such schools.
Let’s look at some numbers here. According to Education Data, the average in-state community college tuition ranges from as low as $1,300 to slightly over $7,500 per year. The country’s average is $3,400 for in-state students and $8,210 for out-of-state students.
Now, let’s compare this to the cost of four-year schools:
- public four-year college (in-state) – $10,740
- public four-year college (out-of-state) – $27,560
- private four-year college – $38,070
As you can see, the price range is significantly higher. And, if we look at the cost of more popular universities, it only gets worse.
If you do a bit of math, you can see that by going to a two-year community college, you can save from $2,500 to as much as $30,000+ in a year. Respectively, during the two years of your supposed studies, you can end up saving from $13,000 to over $60,000. The difference is huge, so we could leave it like that and state that a community college is indeed cost-efficient.
But, according to the expert from EssayService, there is a catch.
The Cons of Going to a Community College
If you start working right after graduating from a community college, you can end up saving lots of time and money on your education. However, it is fair to say that a community college degree won’t give you access to all jobs out there. In many cases, building a solid career in a fast-growing industry will require you to continue your education and earn at least a BA degree.
The good news is that you can take another two years at a four-year college after two years at a community one and get your degree. But the main catch is that not everyone is capable of doing that.
Programs in four-year colleges and universities are much more intense. And the teachers are more demanding too. So, when you get into such a school after a community college, you can suddenly realize that you are way behind the program. And catching up with your peers can take lots of time.
According to stats, only 13% of community college graduates transfer to a four-year school graduate in two years as expected. Another 22% graduate within three years. And 28% of such students graduate within four years.
In terms of savings, this means that you might actually pay even more. Basically, you will have to pay for the two years at a community college, and then, if something goes wrong, you might also have to pay for another 3-4 years at a regular college.
And there is more! It is perfect if you can pay for your community college out of pocket. In this case, you might eventually get long-term savings. But what if you are taking a loan to finance your education? In this case, if you don’t manage to graduate from a four-year college in two years as planned, you risk ending up with hefty student debt.
The Bottom Line
If you look at the tuition alone, it is crystal clear that community colleges are much more cost-efficient. And many people believe it’s true. However, in reality, community college hides many pitfalls. The catches we discussed here can rid you of the possibility of saving money. Moreover, you can end up spending even more than if you’d just go straight to a four-year college.
So, what is our verdict? Although community colleges can seem like a sweet deal, they aren’t good for everyone. Eventually, it all gets down to your needs, expectations, and goals.
Therefore, before deciding to attend such a school, it is vital that you weigh out all pros and cons. Research your options and assess your abilities realistically to minimize the risks. After all, your future career and financial stability will heavily depend on this decision. Focus on your unique needs and current situation to see if this option will work for you!