Picture courtesy of KU Brand Photography
Click on the picture for the best community colleges in the US according to The Best Schools website.
Pro's
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Less costly
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Easier to transfer
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Smaller class sizes
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Quality instruction
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No ACT/SAT required
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Instructors have more availability to assist students
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Academic support from financial and academic advisors
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Flexible scheduling
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Take care of Bachelor degree pre-requisites
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Financial aid opportunities
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Some offer similar amenities as four year institutions like athletics , housing options, and recreation centers
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Online options
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Offers vocational training programs
Community College
A community college is a regionally accredited two-year institution that can be public or private (Cohen et. al., 2014). These are also referred to as junior colleges. Students will receive their Associates degree at these institutions. Although this is a two-year degree, some students use it as a stepping stone to a four-year institution. If your student is planning on going that route, please make sure they speak with an advisor at the college to make sure everything they take will transfer.
Con's
- Limited curriculum
- No meal plan options
- Competitive sports options are limited
- Not all credits transfer
- Majority of students commute
- Similar to a high school atmosphere
- Degree not as impressive on resume to some employers
- Less socialization opportunities
Student Testimonials
A student wrote "I felt that a lot of my instructors at the community college had chosen to work there because they like the environment ... there's a realness of people, you know ... I got the sense that teachers felt like they were contributing to the community in a much more direct way" (Davies & Casey, 1999)
Davies & Casey (1999) also interviewed another student who said " I felt like in my classes, the teachers cared a whole lot more about who I am and what I was learning in their class."
A student off of Quora mentions that "Community College is forgiving, no matter where you are in life."