by Amber Lee Many of the recent high school graduates who are attending a community college this year are doing so because they want a cost effective education. But are they missing vital opportunities in an effort to save money?
The recession has sent more high school students to community colleges because it can be economical with little to no loss in the quality of education. The average tuition of community colleges is about $2,000. That’s about $4,000 less than tuition at a public four-year college and almost $22,000 less than a private or out-of-state college. And not only does community college cost less, but you can also receive a quality education. For example, the College of Southern Maryland (CSM), a community college near my hometown, has partnered with many four-year colleges, such as the University of Maryland College Park (UMD). Partnerships such as this allow students to easily transfer their credits and receive a degree from the larger school with or without actually attending.
By attending a community college you may, however, miss out on participating in sports, Greek life, clubs and organizations, and other opportunities to meet new and interesting people. Because most community colleges do not provide housing, many students must live with their parents for the first year or two. Many of my classmates were born and raised in the same town, planned on going to CSM and then transferring to UMD – which is less than an hour away, and would probably end up working and living in a town close to home. Had they gone to a four-year college farther from home they would have been forced to mature (at least a little), interact with people from different backgrounds and cultures, and depend on themselves.
Some of the most important lessons in college are learned when you are forced to rely on yourself, but it is difficult to be taught this while living at home with Mom and Dad. While I understand that finance is a very important deciding factor in what college a student attends, one should not disregard the merits of a full college experience.
The recession has sent more high school students to community colleges because it can be economical with little to no loss in the quality of education. The average tuition of community colleges is about $2,000. That’s about $4,000 less than tuition at a public four-year college and almost $22,000 less than a private or out-of-state college. And not only does community college cost less, but you can also receive a quality education. For example, the College of Southern Maryland (CSM), a community college near my hometown, has partnered with many four-year colleges, such as the University of Maryland College Park (UMD). Partnerships such as this allow students to easily transfer their credits and receive a degree from the larger school with or without actually attending.
By attending a community college you may, however, miss out on participating in sports, Greek life, clubs and organizations, and other opportunities to meet new and interesting people. Because most community colleges do not provide housing, many students must live with their parents for the first year or two. Many of my classmates were born and raised in the same town, planned on going to CSM and then transferring to UMD – which is less than an hour away, and would probably end up working and living in a town close to home. Had they gone to a four-year college farther from home they would have been forced to mature (at least a little), interact with people from different backgrounds and cultures, and depend on themselves.
Some of the most important lessons in college are learned when you are forced to rely on yourself, but it is difficult to be taught this while living at home with Mom and Dad. While I understand that finance is a very important deciding factor in what college a student attends, one should not disregard the merits of a full college experience.
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