2-Year vs. 4-Year College Options
Pros
2- Year Community College~Affordability- Community Colleges are usually less expensive per credit hour than 4-year colleges and can be an inexpensive way to take some of your prerequisite courses for your first year or two of college.
~Location- You may not be ready to move far away from home after graduation. If you have a community college close by, it could be in your best interest to take a year of classes and commute from home. ~Academic Regimen- Classes generally move at a slower pace at community collleges, than at 4-year universities. If you struggled through high school, this setting may be more helpful to your college success than attending a 4-year school. | 4-Year College or University~Choices- If you can dream something up you can find a college or university that offers a course or major in it.
~Collegiate Experience- From school spirit to dorm living, from athletic events to rec sports, and Homecoming to student life, 4- year colleges offer a well-rounded collegiate experience that cannot be found on a community college campus. ~Academic Regimen- 4-year colleges offer many classes that will give you the opportunity to expand your way of thinking and give you opportunities to explore ideas that you may never have considered otherwise. ~Scholarship Options- 4-year colleges offer scholarships specifically to first-time freshman(you have not taken classes on a college campus). If you start out at a community college you will forfeit these scholarship opportunities. ***see note below. |
2-year vs 4-year College Options
Cons
2-year Community College~Academic Regimen- If you are an exceptional student, you may not feel challenged in community college courses. This can result in boredom and lack of interest in your courses. However, most community colleges have very high academic standards.
~Commuter Campuses- Very few community colleges have on campus housing options like dorms or apartments. You will be responsible for finding housing and commuting to campus. ~Choices- While many community colleges have extensive course offerings, they simply do not offer as many as you will find at a 4-year university. | 4-year College or University~Affordability- 4-year colleges are usually more expensive than community colleges, but financial aid options can significantly reduce tution costs.
~Size- Many 4-year colleges have a much larger student body than most community colleges, so students can feel like they're "lost in the shuffle." However, some 4-year colleges have student populations of 500-1,000 students. Research student population if class size matters to you. |