The Top Challenges for Non-Traditional Students in Community College

Many students choose community college over a traditional four-year university because it is more affordable. A year of tuition at community college could be as low as $3,500 compared to more than $33,000 for a private university. But just because community college is more affordable doesn’t necessarily mean it is any less a real college. Many community colleges strive to mimic the “true” college experience by offering their students campus housing and social activities.

Another way in which community colleges strive to compete with traditional universities is by offering athletics programs. In early March of 2017, community college athletics was a trending topic on Twitter, Instagram, and other social media. Keep reading to learn more.

Students Choose Community Colleges for Sports

In early March 2017, the Twitter hashtag #communitycollege was filled with announcements by incoming community college students making commitments based on athletics. Here is an overview of some of those announcements:

• On March 2, 2017, @jvaught11, the Twitter handle, posted, “Excited to announce that I have signed to play baseball at Chandler-Gilbert Community College.” Home of the Wild Coyotes, Chandler-Gilbert Community College is located in Chandler, Arizona, and it offers a variety of sports programs, including baseball, basketball, golf, soccer, softball, and volleyball.
• On March 8, 2017, the Twitter handle @CoachRegalado posted, “Congrats to @mgonzalez13 on her visit and PWO offer to Laredo Community College!” Laredo Community College, also known as LCC, is located in Laredo, Texas, and offers sports programs, including baseball, softball,

Many students choose community college over a traditional four-year university because it is more affordable. However, college tuition costs are rising across the board every year. Attending community college may still be the more affordable option, but it is not cheap.

If you are thinking about attending community college, do some research to learn what kind of costs you can expect and how much financial aid you might qualify for. You should also familiarize yourself with some of the most common financial aid mistakes that community college students make so you can avoid making them yourself.

How Much Does Community College Cost?

When considering community college costs, you must consider more than just tuition. Most community colleges charge for tuition on a per-credit-hour basis, though that is not always the case. The average cost for one year of tuition and fees to attend a public 2-year college is around $3,500 for in-state students. For a public 4-year college for in-state students, the average yearly cost is closer to $9,500. In addition to the cost of tuition and fees, you also have to think about things like school books, housing, and various living expenses like food and transportation. Many community college students can minimize these costs by living at home.

This video looks at some common financial mistakes students make.

Financial Aid Options for Community College

There are several different kinds of financial aid you might

Though many people still think that community college is a lesser version of a traditional four-year university, the truth is that your education will be what you make it – it doesn’t really matter where you go to school. In the end, all that really matters is the effort you put into it and how well you take advantage of the opportunities presented to you. If you want to graduate from community college with the best chance for future success, follow these top ten tips when you start attending school.

Why Attend a Community College?

According to the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC), almost half of all undergraduate students in the United States attend community college. Community college appeals to a diverse range of students from recent high school graduates to adults seeking continued education. Many students enjoy the flexibility and affordability of community college as compared to traditional four-year universities, though both options come with their own set of unique challenges. Going to college, in general, is a major life event and the choices you make could influence your future success. Having the right mindset and being proactive about your community college career can help you to get the most out of your education.

This video offers reasons why you should attend community college.

Tips for New Community College Students

Though community college is very different from a traditional four-year

Many students opt to attend community college over traditional four-year schools because it is generally cheaper. But there are always hidden fees and extra costs to consider as an incoming student. This week on social media, various topics related to community college costs have been trending, including Detroit’s action to make community college free and San Francisco’s move to use taxes to pay for community college. There was also an interesting post by NPR regarding rising hunger and homelessness as college costs increase.

San Francisco Becomes First U.S. City to Offer Tuition-Free Community College

On Saturday, February 11, the Twitter handle @CNN (CNN News) posted a link to a news article regarding San Francisco’s decision to offer free community college to all residents starting in the fall of 2017. San Francisco will be the first U.S. city to make this choice, and it has many residents in uproar, considering that the tuition costs will be paid for by property taxes equaling more than $5 million. CNN news writer Katie Lobosco reports that this tax is called the “real estate transfer tax,” and it was increased in 2016 for both commercial and residential properties, an increase that voters approved in November of 2016.

The real estate transfer tax begins at 2.25% and goes as high as 3% for properties with an estimated worth exceeding $25 million. The tax is expected to bring in an average of $45 million annually.