Everybody seems to have an opinion about community college - on one hand, people say it's much cheaper than attending a 4-year university, a great way to save money, and often a gentle transition from high school to college life. On the other hand, some people say it's much better to go straight to a university, citing the low completion rates for community college students and the fact that many community colleges are underfunded and don't offer the same resources students can get at a 4-year university.
So who's right? The truth, as usual, is somewhat more complicated than either argument would suggest. It turns out both arguments are true to some extent, but neither really gives the full picture.
If you've read previous posts, you have probably picked up on my emphasis on college fit. In my experience as a counselor, the students who do not do well at community college are the ones who didn't think through what their needs were before enrolling in community college, and didn't stop to consider whether this particular school was a good fit. The students who do well are the ones who did think through this process, and knew at the beginning what they wanted to get out of the experience.
So let's dig a little deeper into when community college is or is not a good option for you:
Community college could be the best choice for you if......
You are apprehensive about leaving home and going to a big university, and need a buffer period in between. If you go to your local community college, you will be able to stay more within your comfort zone as you transition to college. Many community colleges also have smaller class sizes than large public universities, making the transition less stressful.
You weren't able to complete the required courses or get the grades you needed to get into the school you wanted. In this case, community college can give you a second chance. You can complete the required coursework and get your grades up. Many community college offer degree-for-transfer programs, with guaranteed admission to participating universities if you complete all the requirements.
You are planning on living at home and working on general education requirements. When people focus on cost savings at community colleges, they often focus on the tuition. Yes, community college tuition is less expensive than 4-year colleges, but the biggest single expense in college is often room and board - that is, rent and food. If you can live at home, you will most likely save money. If you are not living at home, your community college plan may actually end up costing MORE out of pocket (see below for more details).
Community college may NOT be the best choice if........
You are not inspired by the offerings at the college. Sure, you might save a little money in the short term, but many students who are uninspired by the offerings at their local community college end up dropping out and never finishing school.
You are not planning on living at home, and you qualify for financial aid. As crazy as it seems, if you qualify for financial aid, and plan to rent a place of your own, it may end up being MORE expensive to go to community college than to go to a 4-year university. What?! How? It turns out financial aid can be used to help cover all education-related expenses, including room and board (e.g. rent and food), transportation, books, and some miscellaneous personal expenses. This is all factored into the total cost of attendance, or COA, for the school. While students tend to focus on tuition when considering college costs, it turns out room and board is often the biggest expense in a student's budget. Many universities can offer financial aid to help with living costs, most community colleges cannot. Therefore, if you are NOT planning on living at home, your out of pocket costs, when you factor in rent and food, may be higher at a community college than a 4-year university, even some private universities. You'll have to check your financial aid offers to see if this is the case for you (which means you need to apply to 4-year colleges by the deadlines).
Regarding costs, it gets even worse. If you have to work a lot to pay for your living expenses your first couple years at community college, the money you earn may make you ineligible for financial aid when you transfer, and when your tuition expenses therefore increase. So what you thought would save money might end up being more expensive in the short-term, and sabotaging your financial aid in the long term.
To sum it all up.......
A community college can be a great choice if it is a good fit; that is, if it fits your academic, social, and personal needs. Like all college choices, you should consider various factors, including academic programs offered, social environment, campus activities, support services available, cost, financial aid availability, distance from home, and anything else that is important to you in your college experience.
On the other hand, if the particular college is NOT a good fit, you should keep looking and find the best fit for your education needs. When all factors are considered, the best fit gives you the best chance for success, and the greatest likelihood of reaching your educational and career goals.
