Why Should You Take Elective Courses at Community College?

The average published yearly tuition for a private four-year college now exceeds $43,000, while the average total cost of attendance at a public university can surpass $30,000 per year for out-of-state students. For many people, paying this much for college simply isn’t possible. For this reason, more and more students are turning to community colleges because they are generally more affordable than traditional four-year colleges and universities.

Even if community college is cheaper than traditional four-year schools, tuition is still a major expense. Many students take out loans to finance their education, but they are still left with the cost of books, supplies, transportation, and fees. If you are struggling to pay your community college expenses, you will be glad to know that there are some options out there that don’t involve taking out more loans.

Money-Saving Tips Before Enrollment

To ensure that you save as much as possible on community college tuition, there are a few things you can do while you are still in high school.

For one thing, you should take full advantage of any opportunities you have during high school to earn college credits. This may include taking Advanced Placement (AP) classes, dual-enrollment courses, or other programs that allow you to earn credits before graduation. Completing credits early can significantly reduce both the time and money required to earn a degree.

You should also keep an eye out for scholarship opportunities. Many charitable organizations, businesses, and community foundations offer scholarships that can help you

Choosing a college is a huge decision, one that will affect your career options for the rest of your life. Not only is selecting a college a life-changing decision, but it can be a very challenging decision to make simply because there are so many options. Between state colleges, private colleges, and community colleges, your options are nearly limitless but, for many people, community colleges aren’t even on the radar. Why is it that community colleges get such a bad rap, and is a bad reputation deserved?

The Benefits of Community College

Before getting into the reason behind the bad rap community college often receives, it would benefit you to learn some of the reasons why someone might choose a community college over a state or private institution. You will find a list of benefits associated with community colleges below:

• Lower Tuition Costs – The main benefit of attending community college over a state or private institution is reduced tuition costs. While a private college might charge tens of thousands of dollars per year, community colleges remain one of the most affordable pathways to higher education. Students comparing costs may want to review the 2026 community college tuition outlook.
• Off-Campus Housing – One of the major costs associated with state and private colleges is the cost of housing. If you choose to attend community college, you don’t have to pay for on-campus housing and you may even be able to live at home.
• Focused Faculty – At a

Global Learning Made Accessible: Exploring Study Abroad Opportunities for Community College Students

For many students attending four-year colleges or universities, a semester abroad is a typical experience and one that offers a host of benefits. Students who study abroad have the opportunity to live and study within a new culture and often have the chance to hone valuable language skills. However, for community college students, many of whom have essential responsibilities outside of the classroom, spending months away from home and work is impractical at best and more than likely impossible.

This video offers some reasons why you should study abroad.

In recent years, several community colleges have identified the benefits of studying abroad and have acknowledged the unique challenges their students face in doing so. As a result, many community colleges now offer short-term study abroad and traditional semester programs. In the last decades, the number of community college students who take the opportunity to study overseas has expanded tremendously, from just fewer than 4,000 students back in 2001 to almost 300,000 in 2015.

Community colleges offer programs to fit the schedules and unique learning needs of almost any student:

• Short-term educational programs
• Traditional semester-long programs
• Short and long-term volunteer or service-learning programs

Community college students can work with study abroad program providers, who will coordinate with a student’s college to assess the credit available for different short and long-term programs. They can also

There’s a change coming in California.

Recently, a measure passed that allows community colleges in California to offer four-year degrees. Until now, such offerings have been the sole province of other institutions. Now, the game has changed.

On September 28, 2014, California Governor Jerry Brown signed Senate Bill 850 (Block), authorizing up to 15 California community college districts to offer a single Bachelor's degree on a pilot basis. The bill's goal is to create one million bachelor' s-degree jobs by 2025.

A Better College System

Former California State Senator Dean Florez says this measure is a decisive move in the right direction. “Allowing California Community colleges to offer four year skill-based degrees has grown from a long-simmering recognition—from students, employers and government leaders—that skills matter more today than how and where they were acquired. This new four-year program offers students a more accessible and shorter education pathway with a recognized skill-based credential.”

“Students benefit with a tailored personalized degree program directed in part by employers, blending their career needs with an affordable degree. It is also very cost effective, given the planned BA degrees will be under $10,000 dollars, which is nearly one-half the cost of California State's four year schools and one-eighth the cost of a traditional University of California four-year degree. Most community college students can't afford to give up four or five years of income while accumulating six-figure debt, so this degree