Community vs. Other Colleges

How to Support a Teen Balancing Community College and Work

Balancing community college coursework with a job is increasingly common—yet also challenging. According to national data, nearly 70 percent of community college students work while enrolled, often out of necessity.¹ At the same time, working more than 20 hours per week has been linked to slower progress, higher stress, and lower completion rates.² For parents, educators, and mentors, knowing how to support teens in this juggling act can make the difference between burnout and success.

This article offers evidence-based strategies, real-world examples, and actionable tips for helping a teen thrive academically, financially, and personally in the current year.

Why It Matters: Risks & Opportunities

The Stakes Are High

• Time pressure and burnout: Working too many hours cuts into study time, rest, and opportunities for campus engagement.

• Attrition risk: Students juggling heavy workloads are more likely to stop out or lose academic momentum.³

• Financial stress vs. benefit: Many students work to meet basic needs. Some jobs, when aligned to their academic field, can reinforce learning and career relevance.⁴

The Upside

• Skill development: Time management, professional communication, and resilience are earned through balancing responsibilities.

• Networking & career alignment: Jobs tied to a student’s field of study can provide early experience and resume strength.

How to Choose the Right Community College for Your Child

In 2025, more families than ever are considering community college as a smart, affordable pathway for higher education. With tuition costs at four-year universities continuing to rise and job markets rewarding technical credentials, the community college system has become a cornerstone of opportunity.

But with more than 1,000 community colleges across the U.S., each with different strengths, how can parents know which one is the right fit for their child?

This guide explores the key factors families should weigh when choosing the right community college, with updated insights, expert commentary, and practical tools for decision-making.

Why Families Choose Community College in 2025

Community colleges have shed outdated stigmas. Today, they serve as engines of mobility and career readiness.

Key reasons parents consider community college:

• Affordability – Average tuition is under $4,000 per year (U.S. Department of Education).

• Transfer Pathways – Clear articulation agreements with four-year universities.

• Career Programs – High-demand training in fields like healthcare, IT, and advanced manufacturing.

• Flexibility – Part-time, online, and hybrid learning options.

• Support Services – Academic advising, tutoring, and first-generation student programs.

Key Factors to Consider 1. Academic Programs and Transfer Options

Not all community colleges offer the same academic pathways. Families should research:

• Transfer Agreements – Does the school have strong partnerships with nearby universities?

• Specialized Programs – Nursing, cybersecurity, business, or STEM tracks.

• Accreditation – Ensures credits will transfer to four-year institutions.

2. Cost and Financial Aid

Community college remains the

Is Community College the Best Option for Homeschoolers?

Community college has gained a reputation for being the ideal option for nontraditional students. Single parents, retirees, and individuals hoping to switch careers are some of the biggest beneficiaries of community college, but there is another group of students to think about – homeschoolers.

According to the National Household Education Survey Program (NHES), over 1.7 million K-12 students were homeschooled in the United States. Homeschooling has become increasingly more popular since it became a legal option in all 50 states in 1993.

There are many reasons why parents choose to homeschool their children. For some, it is a matter of wanting greater control over their child’s curriculum and schedule or a desire to create a program adapted to their child’s needs. Homeschooling can help parents create a stronger bond with their children, and it gives children the freedom to learn at their own pace. Homeschooling does come with its challenges, however, particularly when it comes to college applications.

College applications for homeschoolers are not as complex as they used to be, but it still takes time to complete them. More homeschoolers are turning to community college over traditional four-year colleges and universities. Keep reading to learn why and how to prepare your homeschooler for college.

Surprising Facts About Homeschoolers in College

Though more than 3% of the K-12 student population in the United States is homeschooled, many people still misunderstand this educational option. Here are some of the

For many students, the primary benefit of community college is that it is local to their community. In recent years, however, community colleges have begun to offer more classes online and plans for an all-online community college in California are underway.

So, what are the benefits of attending community college online, and are there any drawbacks? Keep reading to find out.

The Evolution of Online Education

The first American community college was born in 1901 and, over the past eleven decades, they have served the educational needs of nontraditional and financially constrained students. One of the biggest draws of community college, as compared to traditional colleges and universities, is that they were local, and they provided a more convenient, reduced-cost alternative.

From modest beginnings, the National Center for Education Statistics says that the community college student population has grown to over 6.4 million students. Of those students, nearly 2 million are enrolled in at least one online course.

Online education is nothing new, at least not in the realm of modern education. Technically speaking, however, the technology needed to facilitate online education (namely, computers) is over 170 years old. The precursor to online education was correspondence courses which were first offered in Great Britain. Instructors developed lessons and sent them to students by mail who then completed the assignment and mailed it back.

The advent of the Internet has made a great many things possible that were once unfathomable, and it has been an instrumental tool in the

The perception of the value of a college degree appears to be evolving. As some students and their parents begin to focus on their return on investment (ROI), they are beginning to realize that graduating from a prestigious four-year school isn’t as glamorous as it seems. In addition, rising concern over increasing student debt has spurred questions about the best path to a profession. As the exploration continues, community colleges are starting to be seen as offering superior ROI for many students today.

The Value of a Four-Year Degree

PolicyMic reports on a recent analysis that looked at 1,248 four-year colleges and universities across the country. The study showed 28 percent of those four-year schools offered a negative ROI, which means students would have been better off financially if they had not gone to school at all! However, if those students had started their higher education at a community college and then transferred to a four-year school for their last two years, the negative ROI would have been reduced to 11.5 percent.

The best ROI from four-year schools often involved engineering programs. Schools like Colorado School of Mines, Georgia Tech, MIT, and Cal Tech reflect that trend. Ivy League schools also made the list for positive ROIs, demonstrating that high admission standards and a tradition of success do contribute to the value of postsecondary education. Other four-year schools did not always fare as well. For example, the last school on the list, Savannah College