The most important consideration of any student is, of course, academics. Edison State College offers bachelor degrees in science, but students who want to gain their bachelor of arts must attend South Florida Community College. Each community college offers certificate degree programs and associate degree programs. Students may also want to check that degrees are transferable to a university; this way, they may earn their associate degree at community college before moving to a bigger school for further education. Some of Southwest Florida's community colleges offer this option. Edison State has four campuses in southwest Florida: Fort Meyers, Punta Gorda, Naples and LaBelle. Southwest Florida College is in Bonita Springs.
Athletically inclined students and students who are a fan of college sports, may want to research a school's athletics program before joining. Many community colleges do not offer a full complement of athletics programs. South Florida Community College, for example, provides programs in baseball, softball and volleyball only, while Southwest Florida College provides no athletic programs and several school-sponsored clubs instead.
On-campus housing, study facilities and dining are all important considerations. Some community colleges may provide full libraries and other student facilities, while others have smaller campuses incapable of supporting many amenities. When living, dining and study needs are important, students must learn about the amenities their potential college campus offers. Student parking, health services and other facilities may also be desired by some. Southwest Florida College offers an online class option that may be attractive to some students and an on-campus Academic Success Center offering tutoring, a computer lab and other study facilities. South Florida Community College has an on-campus career center, where students may receive help in choosing a major, writing a resume and interviewing for future jobs.
Many colleges encourage students to get involved with student life and the many opportunities that college provides, but some community colleges are too small to support a full network of social events and extras. Students who are interested in programs like cheerleading, various social clubs, a college newspaper and/or college radio station must find a school offering these specifics. Southwest Florida College offers several student clubs, including the Allied Health Club, Information Technology Club and the Multi-Cultural Club. South Florida Community College is home to the Panther Purr, an on-campus newspaper detailing Florida college life.