Thinking about going back to school, but scared of making ends meet while working and taking college classes? If you want to save yourself thousands of dollars and still pursue a quality education, now is the time to consider the community college.
Interesting information about community colleges:
"More than four in every 10 college students are enrolled in community colleges, where average published tuition and fees for full-time students are $2,272. These institutions enroll disproportionate numbers of low-income students and older students, as well as black, Hispanic, and Native American students ...
On average, full-time community college students receive about $2,200 in grant aid and tax benefits, leaving net tuition and fees of less than $100 ...
As is the case in four-year colleges, there is considerable regional variation in two-year public college
tuition and fees, which range from $1,309 in the West to $3,483 in the Middle States region." [Source: College Board]
"There are many learning options. Students may be in live classes or take them online. They can schedule classes days, evenings, weekends, fast track, flex, for credit or for continuing education. Students can earn up to two years of university transfer credits, or opt for a faster track to the job market through our one- and two-year career programs in a variety of fields from computers to cosmetology, medical careers, interior design, business and many more." [Source: Kingwood College]
"If your plan is to attend a two-year college with the ultimate goal of transferring to a four-year school, you will be pleased to know that the importance of the community college path to a bachelor's degree is recognized by all segments of higher education. As a result, many two-year schools have revised their course outlines and established new courses in order to comply with the offerings of the universities.
Institutional improvements to simplify transferring credits have also occurred at both the two- and four-year levels. The generous transfer policies of the Pennsylvania, New York, and Florida state university systems, for example, reflect this attitude. These systems accept all credits from students who have graduated from accredited community colleges." [Source: Peterson's]
Fast facts about community colleges and community college students in the United States:
Community college students constitute the following percentages of undergraduates:
- All U.S. undergraduates—46%
- First-time freshmen—45%
- Native American—57%
- Asian/Pacific Islander—47%
- Black—47%
- Hispanic—55%
Employment Status of Community College Students
- Full-time students employed full time—27%
- Full-time students employed part time—50%
- Part-time students employed full time—50%
- Part-time students employed part time—33%
Community Colleges at the Forefront
- Health care: 50% of new nurses and the majority of other new health-care workers are educated at community colleges.
- International programs: Close to 100,000 international students attend community colleges—about 39% of all international undergraduate students in the United States.
- Workforce training: 95% of businesses and organizations that employ community college graduates recommend community college workforce education and training programs.
- Homeland security: Close to 80% of firefighters, law enforcement officers, and EMTs are credentialed at community colleges.
- Five hottest community college programs: registered nursing, law enforcement, licensed practical nursing, radiology, and computer technologies.
- Earnings: The average expected lifetime earnings for a graduate with an associate degree are $1.6 million—about $.4 million more than a high school graduate earns.
[Source: American Association of Community Colleges]
Notable Names - Famous Community College Alumni:
Actor Morgan Freeman, Los Angeles City College
Actor Tom Hanks, Chabot College
Actor Nick Nolte, Eastern Arizona College
Actor/Comedian Billy Crystal, Nassau Community College
Actor/Director Clint Eastwood, Los Angeles City College
Former Kansas City Chiefs Head Coach, *** Vermeil
Host of "America's Most Wanted" John Walsh
Illinois Congressman Lane Evans, Black Hawk College
NY Knicks point guard Steve Francis, San Jacinto College
Rapper/Actress Queen Latifah, Borough of Manhattan Community College
Retired NBA guard Latrell Sprewell, Three Rivers Community College
Retired NBA power forward Dennis Rodman, Cooke County Junior College
[Sources: American Association of Community Colleges, Black Issues in Higher Education]