Many things factor in one’s selection process when choosing a community college. After briefly introducing you to these factors, we will discuss each factor in detail in turn. Here are some of the selection criteria that students consider when investigating community colleges:
- Why are you going to school?
- If you plan to continue with a four-year degree, what type of articulation agreements does the community college have with four-year colleges?
- What type of coursework do you need?
- Is cost an issue?
- Do you want or need a virtual campus?
- Do you have a four-year college in mind?
- Location, Location, Location!
- On-Campus Activities
- Student Support
Let’s look at each of these factors in detail now that we have introduced them to you.
Most people attending a four-year college go with the sole target of getting a four-year bachelor’s degree to help prepare them for their professional careers. But with community colleges, students attend for different purposes. Many students attend to get a two-year degree. There are, however, other end goals for students including transferring to a four-year college, getting a high school diploma, remedial education including “English as a Second language, personal growth, professional certification, or workplace required continuing education.” While nationwide statistics were not available, numbers are available by looking at records that BellevueCommunity College in Bellevue, Washington, collected from 2002 to 2004 on the purposes that their students reported for their enrollment intent. The following statistics are from their Fall 2004 student population (the statistics do not total 100% probably due to rounding down
