Community colleges provide a cost-efficient way for students to complete two years of college since tuition and fess are less than at a state or private university. If you plan to transfer to a state university to earn a four-year degree, consider taking your core classes at a two-year college to save money. Attending a local community college allows you to save money by living at home instead of on-campus housing. Many community colleges also provide high school students with the opportunity to fulfill college credits without paying for tuition and fees.
For students who do not feel prepared for a four-year college after high school or do not have the grades for admittance, a two-year college offers a easier transition. Taking classes for a two-year degree will provide you with experience and give you a feel for what the course load would be like at a four-year university. Most four-year universities and colleges have an admissions criteria, such as a minimum GPA and SAT scores, while community colleges admit everyone. If you did not do well enough in high school for admission to a four-year university, attending a two-year college will allow you to achieve a high GPA and make acceptance to a university easier.
Community colleges offer career-oriented degrees that are difficult to find at four-year universities, such as fashion design. Two-year associate degrees at community colleges require specialized classes in fields such as electronics, computer repairs and construction technology, according to College Board. Earning a degree in a specialized area of study will make seeking employment after college easier. For students who do not want to earn an associate degree, certification programs are available at community colleges. These programs provide training in fields such as paralegal and computer drafting and take between six months and a year to achieve.
Four-year universities cater to full-time students who take classes all day, while community colleges work for both full-time and part-time students. Community colleges have a diverse student population with varied employment status, family backgrounds, ages and socioeconomic levels, according to the College Board. To meet the needs of this diverse student population, community colleges have flexible course schedules, offering day, night, weekend and online classes.