by Ashley Shea

Created on: June 15, 2008

There are many benefits for starting your college experience at a Community college. As one who started my college life at a Community college, I have a biased, but experienced, opinion. Here are what some would consider the most important benefits:

1. Expense A local Community college will always be less expensive than a University. In addition to the lower cost for tuition and fees, Community colleges are usually closer to home, eliminating the need for room and board and reducing transportation costs.

2. Easier Choices As a student first entering college, you may know exactly the field you want a career in. Or, you may have a few in mind. At a Community college, students can take some introductory classes in a variety of fields. The classes will not be wasted because they will go towards your general credits. For example, a class in Astronomy will count towards the number of credits of science needed, no matter what degree you decide to pursue.

Many students who attend a University jump right into courses that are specific to the degree they want to pursue only to find they are not as enchanted with that career choice the following year. Time and money were lost taking a class that will not qualify as a general credit. This is one of the reasons why so many students need 5 years to earn a degree.

3. Smaller Classes You will find fewer classes with stadium seating at a Community college. As a student, you will feel more like an individual and less like a number. You will know your teachers and they will be able to give you the attention you need to be successful in their classes.

4. Ability to Transfer Credits Advisors at Community colleges are aware that students may want to transfer class credits to local Universities. As long as they know that this is the intention, they will make suggestions for course selection knowing which credits will or will not transfer.

5. From Experience to Expertise Many Universities will accept a completed Associates degree (2-year degree) as a student's general credits. That means that years 3 and 4 can be devoted to taking classes specific to your degree. After having two years of college experience, students have a better chance at success in these classes and they are less likely to switch degrees.

In addition, this makes years 3 and 4 easier, in some respects. You will be immersed in a subject you enjoy. What is being taught in one class you will immediately be able to apply to another. You may even be able to do one project that can be used in more than one class, significantly cutting your work load.

6. Expense I know I included this as the first benefit, but I have to include it again because it is so important. It shows up in all of the other benefits. Your costs go down when you don't loose credits because you took a specific course that does not apply to your final degree choice. Your costs go down when every single credit you earn at a Community college counts at a University. You have almost cut your costs in half when you earn half of your degree at a Community college.

Of course, a University education has many benefits, but most of those benefits occur once student starts taking classes specific to a degree. Save your money and still reap that benefit by attending a University once all of the general credits have been earned and a decision on a career path is more definite.

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