With the dramatically rising tuition costs, many families are turning towards the financially savvy decision of starting on the higher education path first at a two-year community college. Many public and private universities have articulation agreements with local community colleges. Therefore, attending a community college for two years before transferring to a four-year institution can save significant money – while still providing you with an excellent bachelor's degree.
According to the College Board, for the 2007 – 2008 school year, community colleges' average tuition and fees were $2,360. This is in contrast to $6,185 at a public four-year institution or $23,712 for a private four-year institution.
This video looks at ways you can lower college costs.
Calculating the specific academic savings
For example, let us calculate the savings if you begin your academic career at Pasadena City College, which has articulation transfer agreements with the public UC campuses and the private University of Southern California.
If you are a resident of California and attend Pasadena City College full-time, which is based upon 12 units, then you have the following annual academic costs:
- Tuition and Fees: $508
- Books and school supplies: $1500
In contrast, at the private University of Southern California, you have the following full-time annual academic costs:
- Tuition and fees: $30,850
- Books: $1,000
At a public University of California campus, the annual full-time academic costs for a California resident are:
- Tuition and Fees: $8,385
- Books: 1,300
If you attended Pasadena Community College for the first two years, your tuition and books would only cost $4,016. At a public UC, these first two years would cost $19,370; at a private USC, you would pay $63,700. Therefore, starting at Pasadena Community College first, you pocket an extra $15,354 compared to a public UC or save $59,684 over the private school USC!
This video offers three tips for keeping college expenses low.
Even more significant savings when you consider all cost variables
The above savings are strictly calculated based on tuition, fees, and books. They do not consider the costs of housing, meals, transportation, or interest costs on student loans. When you calculate these other factors, the savings of attending community college first become even more significant.
Many students who attend community college can live at home for the first two years, saving significant amounts of money. The average cost of dorm housing at a UC campus or USC is approximately $13,000 per year, and thus, a student attending Pasadena City College who lives at home will pocket an extra $26,000 at the end of the two years. Therefore, in contrast to a student who started their first year at a public UC campus, after two years, the community college student has now saved an extra $21,354 – or a dramatic $85,684 compared to a private USC student.
This video suggests ways to lower your college expenses.
The flexibility of community college scheduling, including distance learning and evening courses, allows students to work part-time or full-time for the first two years of college. In contrast, attending a four-year institution typically involves less flexible class scheduling, which makes having a job more difficult.
By attending a community college for the first two years of your academic career, you save tens of thousands and earn more money to put towards your savings account and future. Considering that the value of a college's bachelor's degree is the same for every student, regardless of whether they started at the institution their first year or transferred, attending a community college is a financially savvy decision that can save you tens of thousands of dollars.
Questions? Contact us on Facebook. @communitycollegereview
