After finishing high school, learners have multiple paths for further education. A viable option is enrolling in a community college. Students study in community colleges for about two years before earning an associate degree of arts (AA) or science (AS). An alternative is directly signing up for a four-year university program and earning a bachelor’s degree. A quick community college vs. university analysis can help one make the right decision.
Benefits of community colleges
Attending community college after high school has several benefits, making it popular among students.
Cost-effectiveness
Pursuing higher education from a university costs more than doing so from a community college. In many instances, the cost difference is massive. A two-year community college stint usually costs only a fourth of a full-fledged university degree stint. It’s true that students in community colleges may miss out on on-campus events, college sports, and other bonus activities associated with a “full-package” university program. Still, the low community college tuition costs make it an attractive alternative.
Smaller class sizes
Several thousand students choose university-based courses every year for further education, so the class size tends to be large. As a result, students do not get personalized attention from professors. Community colleges have fewer students per class, which automatically opens up opportunities for one-on-one interaction with professors. Students can develop a strong understanding of each topic and subject because of the personalized attention they receive from teachers in community colleges.
Easier admission process
Since many students vouch for a limited number of university degree seats, the competition tends to be high. That’s why universities scan every application carefully before approving only the most deserving candidates. The admissions process for community colleges is typically less competitive and more straightforward when compared to four-year universities. The relatively low competition in most community colleges provides students with less-than-adequate high school grades or test scores a chance to improve their academics before transitioning into four-year institutes.
Readymade transfer agreements
Many community colleges have established transfer agreements with four-year universities. This makes transitioning to a bachelor’s degree program seamless. Generally, the transfer agreements guarantee admission to specific programs or institutes, provided learners meet certain academic requirements.
Help with choosing a career path
After finishing high school, some students find it difficult to choose a career path based on their skills and areas of interest. Community colleges help them do this. A short, two-year community college stint provides students time and resources to figure out their career path and choose the right university degree.
Some other community college benefits include flexible scheduling, proximity to institutes for learners, stackable credentials, greater career focus, and less complexity in the overall enrolment process.
Limitations of community colleges
While community colleges have several benefits, students must consider a few things before joining them.
Fewer programs to choose from
Unlike four-year universities, community colleges do not have vast catalogs of programs and courses. So, students need to settle for something that’s available. Relatively rare courses like astrobiology and paper science/engineering are also unlikely to be found in community colleges. Learners will need to opt for universities for such specialized learning programs. That said, community colleges offer more technical and vocational programs.
Limited campus life
One of the great gifts of higher education from a reputed university is the campus life students enjoy there. Various personal growth activities and the opportunity to meet and make friends provide an element of joy, making campus life at university memorable. While students may be able to join a few special-interest clubs in community college, the campus life here is less vibrant compared to that of a four-year university. Students in community colleges largely miss out on the traditional college experiences, like living in dorms, participating in Greek life, and attending large sporting events.
Fewer resources
Apart from having fewer educational programs to pick from, students of community colleges have to make do with fewer learning resources. The libraries in community colleges contain a fraction of the books, research papers, and published journals, which students need to do their research and learn. Also, these colleges do not offer the same number or variety of student organizations, study abroad programs, career resources, or internship opportunities as large universities and colleges do.
Less support from college staff
There are fewer support services available to students in community colleges. For example, counseling and career services, two elements readily available to students in four-year universities, are absent in most, if not all, community colleges. Similarly, teaching assistance beyond standard classes is conspicuously absent from the range of niceties a community college can offer learners.
Students opting for community colleges should ensure they have a provision for their credits to get transferred to a four-year college or university. Without this arrangement, students may have to retake a few classes they have already completed in community college. It’s also important to speak with an education counselor to choose the right university. The expert can help students pick an institution based on their interests and skills.
