If your student is interested in college, but not quite ready for a four-year college experience, check out your community college!  In 2020, there were about 1,022 community colleges nationwide, representing about 28.1% of all institutions of higher education.  During the 2020-2021 school year, over 8 million students attended community colleges, representing about 44% of all undergraduate students enrolled in college that year!  
 

BENEFITS OF COMMUNITY COLLEGE

There are many benefits to attending community college after high school.  

Academic credits that transfer to state university programs!  Community colleges offer two-year associate degree programs (and professional licensing programs, too).  Many students attend to earn credits and then transfer to a four-year college.  As an added benefit, many community colleges have “articulation agreements” so that credits earned at a community college transfers seamlessly to a four-year university program.    

Affordability and flexibility!  Community colleges tend to be more affordable than 4-year colleges, and flexible class times make it easier for students to work part-time or even full-time jobs.  Beyond the inherent savings in tuition costs, community college students have access to a variety of financial aid options, including federal grants and loans, state-based assistance, and institutional aid provided by the community colleges themselves. These resources help to further reduce the financial burden of attending college.  

Strengthen your GPA!  Community college can be a great way for students to strengthen their  GPA, making them stronger candidates for admission to a four-year college.  In addition, students can use community college classes to strengthen their writing and math skills.  Students learning English may use community college coursework to strengthen their language skills in English language classes.  

Explore your academic options!  If your student is unsure about their academic direction, your student can use community college as a means to explore their options and interests.  Since community college can be less financially burdensone, this kind of exploration may be more feasible for students and their families.  

Extracurricular activities that can foster campus connections!  While most community colleges are commuter schools without residential facilities, most still have the extra-curricular and programmatic benefits of four-year colleges, such as school newspaper, clubs, sports and support services to assist students in achieving academic success.