Ah, yes, it’s almost September–a time when high school graduates have traditionally gone to college. If you are headed off to college in less than a month, or if you are a high school junior or senior who is applying to expensive colleges and hoping to get scholarships and other forms of financial aid that you won’t have to pay back after you graduate, you should read this article. I am going to let you in on a route that few college students explore that could save you thousands, and yes, you can still get a quality education.
Something You Should Know
I am going to let you in on a dirty secret. You may already know this secret, though. Most job descriptions that say that you need a Master’s degree or even a Bachelor’s for that matter, to do the work are lying. I am a writer, and have an MBA from Baylor University, and while I find that the knowledge, discipline, and skills I learned to get the degree help, it’s absolutely not needed to be a writer. There are people in college who make more money than I do writing.
The same is true for most careers outside of law and the health fields. Yes, education inflation is real. Here’s another sobering reality. Most employers don’t care where you get your degrees from, and they especially don’t care about your GPA. The big exceptions may be in the Accounting and Financial Services fields.
You can go to a junior college and save lots of money. There are other advantages to going the junior college route. For starters, class sizes are smaller, so you get much more individualized attention. The quality of teaching is better as well. If you go to a research-based university, remember that you are on your own for mastering the material because the professors are generally so busy doing research and publishing that they rarely do any actual teaching.
If your teachers at the junior college do let you make up tests if you miss them, be careful. You will NOT have that luxury if you ever transfer to a four-year college or university, especially if it’s a research-based institution.
What a Junior College is
You may already be familiar with junior colleges, also sometimes referred to as community colleges, because you may have taken courses at your local junior college in high school, or even in junior high school. But this section is for you if you’re still in high school or have just graduated and have never set foot on a college campus.
Most community colleges (called two-year colleges by a few people) are local colleges that are open to the general public. They offer a variety of courses and programs–from two-year associate’s degree programs that let young adults complete the two-year general education courses that all institutions of higher education require, to vocational courses that get people ready for the trades.
You can study for courses that lead to professional certifications and diplomas if you’re interested in joining a particular trade after graduating from high school as well. Junior colleges also offer supplemental courses that allow people to pass challenging exams like the CPA or the Bar exam for accounting and law, respectively.
Some high school and even junior high school students prefer to take college-level courses so that they can get their general requirements knocked out before they apply to colleges. The admin knows that most people who attend junior colleges have to work, often full-time. So they designed the courses and schedules to be flexible and work around students’ often busy lifestyles.
By contrast, almost all four-year colleges and universities (especially if they are research-based) offer courses almost exclusively in the daytime–unfortunately, that’s when most people who work full-time are at work.
Pros of Going to A Junior College First
Not Everyone is Ready to be Thrown to the Wolves at Age 18 or 19
Living in the dorms is not for everyone. While everyone relishes the thought of freedom that being an adult brings, it’s only ideal for the responsible and disciplined. Many 18 and even 19-year-olds aren’t mentally capable of that type of discipline and responsibility, especially if they have lived at home their entire lives and have never been held accountable for anything before.
That means they may not be able to handle the freedoms and excel academically because they may be too caught up in the distractions–parties, sororities, fraternities, and clubs that characterize many four-year institutions of higher education.
Junior Colleges Accommodate Those With Learning Disabilities
Almost all junior colleges tend to offer extensive resources to help young adults transition to a new way of living and studying. These resources are generally much more limited at the majority of four-year colleges and universities. They include:
- Note-taking lessons. Yes, believe it or not, the art of note-taking is a skill that can be learned.
- Extensive group or individualized peer tutoring sessions.
- Recordings of textbook content for those who can’t easily learn by reading a book.
- Testing accommodations for those with mental, learning, or physical disabilities.
- Loanable educational equipment or loans for educational devices.
Since junior colleges do hardly any research, they don’t need to spend thousands on expensive research facilities and equipment. They also don’t need to hire pricey and accomplished (read Nobel laureates) professors. So, they charge much less in tuition than any four-year college or university.
You Can Transfer the Credits Easily
No four-year institution is going to care where you got credits for your courses from. All the admin will care about is if you passed the classes and if they are compatible with the courses offered at the particular (four-year) college or university. In fact, they may welcome your community college courses because passing them shows them that you possess a different type of discipline, responsibility, and grit!
It’s Possible to Save Lots of Money
Did you know that you can save thousands by choosing the two-year college route? It starts with room and board. Your parents may charge you rent and ask you to help with utilities and groceries, especially if you have a job, when you turn 18, but they are probably not going to be asking you to pay at least $11,000 a year for all of these expenses.
Expect to spend at least $11,557 annually if you stay in the dorms at a four-year institution of higher learning. And that’s if you go the public route. That number will go up dramatically and quickly if you attend a private school.
Also, tuition at most two-year colleges is only $3,862 a year. Compare that to the average you will pay in the annual tuition cost of over $9,377 for a four-year college or university. And remember that’s if you go to a public institution whose total cost is often subsidized by federal funds and grants. That tuition figure will be a lot higher for a private college or university.
Do the math, and you can easily save at least $34,144 in two years. That’s money that you can spend attending graduate school (if you decide to pursue that path). It’s also money that you can put towards the down payment of a new house if you decide to work after graduating from college or decide to pursue a trade or vocational job after high school.
Classes are Smaller at Junior Colleges
That’s great news if you have ADHD, dyslexia, or some other learning disability. You will get someone who will actually teach the class and not just spit out what are often disjoined or meaningless facts–professors at four-year institutions (especially if the college or university is research-based) are notorious for ‘teaching’ that way. Consequently, many students who attend four-year colleges and universities don’t learn nearly as much as those who attend two-year colleges do.
Teachers at junior colleges also offer more tailored and personalized learning, which is a big bonus for those who learn differently. There are often only 30 students in most junior college classes. Some junior college classes have even fewer students in a class. By contrast, most four-year college and university classes have several hundred students in each class. That’s why it’s not uncommon for professors to deliver their lectures by video at institutions like UC Berkeley–because the class sizes are so huge.
You Don’t Have to Navigate Through a Complex Maze to Apply to a Junior College
Most four-year colleges and universities have a laundry list of requirements that aspiring college seniors have to navigate to apply. Oftentimes, they (the high school students) need to hire a college counselor to understand the process and requirements. Compare that to the application process at most junior colleges.
Most junior colleges don’t require you to have AP and honors classes to apply. They also don’t require high scores on standardized tests like the SAT, PSAT, and ACT. Junior colleges also have a much lower application fee than most four-year colleges and universities. Note that four-year universities don’t return the application fee, even if they reject you.
Additionally, it’s not uncommon for highly selective four-year institutions to ask you to write a personal essay, submit a detailed Statement of Purpose (SOP), and provide Letters of Recommendation (LORs) from high school teachers before they will even consider accepting you. Two-year colleges don’t have these cumbersome requirements.
You also have to pay to submit high-school transcripts to four-year colleges and universities. Junior colleges don’t have that requirement.
Is the Junior College Path for Every Student?
Some high school graduates do just fine and even excel when they start their college experience at a four-year institution in the dorms. So, not every high school graduate needs to attend a community college straight out of high school. I am going to list a few reasons why some graduates choose to go straight to a four-year college or university.
Community Colleges Don’t Have Competitive Sports
Community colleges tend to prepare their students either for more demanding institutions of higher education or the workforce. So, they don’t offer competitive sports. If you are athletic or want to attend a college or university on a sports scholarship or related financial aid, it may not be in your best interest to attend a two-year college right off the bat.
Dining Choices are Limited
Most junior colleges have a cafeteria where students can dine in. But meal choices tend to be limited. Only four-year colleges and universities offer meal plans for those who stay in the dorms, and these can offer exotic food and beverage items.
There is No Off-Campus Housing
Most junior college students work full-time and live with their parents. They are there because they want to save money. The community college admin knows that, and that’s why they don’t offer any housing options. It wouldn’t make any sense because community college students tend to live within proximity to the campus.
You Won’t Find Fancy Courses at a Junior College
Community colleges exist to put people in the workforce or to get them ready for more intense studies. So, their courses tend to be basic. Some students may find them to be too easy and boring. If you are a junior high schooler or high school student who finds community college courses to be too easy and boring, you may need a more challenging academic environment–four-year colleges and universities, especially research-based ones, offer that setting.
FAQs
How many students are enrolled in community colleges?
There were 6 million students enrolled in community colleges during the 2022-2023 academic year.
Do community colleges have a high graduation rate?
Community colleges have a lower graduation rate. About 28% of new full-time students graduate with an associate’s degree after three years.
Community College May Be for You
Yes, if you are strapped for funds or have special learning needs, a community college may be for you. You will save money and get more individualized attention that will help you learn better. Consequently, you will excel in your chosen career path and climb the career ladder soon. You will also earn more much faster.
