Jefferson College, founded in 1963, is a community college that provides education associated with employment with 30 technical and career related programs which can be taken online. A number of the school's programs are for professions for which a license is required. When a student completes one of these programs, he becomes eligible to take these licensing exams.
Jefferson College also offers free literacy classes which help in preparation for the General Education Development (GED) exam. Graduates of Jefferson College can transfer to four-year universities and colleges to finish a bachelor's degree. Once students complete the required general education units, they can enter four-year institutions with a junior standing.
Jefferson College
1000 Viking Dr.
Hillsboro, MO 63050
636-797-3000
jeffco.edu
The ITT Technical Institute in Arnold, MO, founded in 1997, is a private college institution that offers programs focusing on technology. The college has five schools: the School of Criminal Justice, School of Business, School of Electronics Technology, School of Drafting and Design and the School of Information Technology. Most programs combine applied learning and conventional content concepts, with time allotted to lab environments for practical studies.
ITT Technical Institute
1930 Meyer Drury Dr.
Arnold, MO 63010
888-488-1082
itt-tech.edu
According to the data provided by the National Center for Education Statistics, studying in a community college is more affordable than studying in a private college. For the academic year 2007 to 2008, annual rates for tuition fees, room and board were around $30,393 for private colleges and only $6,966 for community, two-year colleges.
Another difference between community and private colleges is the type of academic degree offered. According to CCCApply.org, an online information portal on California Colleges supported by the California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office, community colleges typically offer associate degrees, while private colleges typically offer bachelor degrees or higher.
Students complete around 60 units of their chosen program for an associate degree. On the other hand, to be awarded with a bachelor's degree, students complete around 124 units.