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| Community Colleges Offer These 5 Advantages |
In the United States, community colleges play an important role in higher education, yet this role is sometimes misinterpreted. When I was an undergrad, I saw first-hand how my roommates would mock Kirkwood Community College and "DMACC" (Des Moines Area Community College) in Iowa. Later, when I was a teacher, my own high school and ESL students made remarks about these particular schools and made the same kinds of horrified and perplexed faces. It is incredible that these resources are misused at all for organisations that provide community-tailored education at a fraction of the cost of 4-year universities. Do people consider junior colleges to be in some way "off brand"? Do community colleges merely struggle with marketing? Even while it may appear that a pandemic's elevated price for a Given the shocking enrollment declines at community colleges, the "campus experience" would be less alluring.
Why? These colleges offer their students a tonne of value.
Community colleges, often known as junior colleges, are 2-year institutions of higher education that offer undergraduate coursework and, in some extraordinary cases, master's degrees in addition to associate's and, more frequently, bachelor's degrees. In 2001, there were 1,462 community colleges in the US, including 415 private and 1,047 public institutions, according to the US Department of Education. The numerous advantages for both domestic and international students who opt to attend these universities will be covered in this article.
1. Price and Entrance
The expense of higher education in the US is a major deterrent. When compared to the cost of tuition at a four-year institution, students can save thousands, if not tens of thousands, of dollars at a community college. When compared to the tuition at a nearby community college, the cost of the first two years of undergraduate study at private universities and for out-of-state students is exorbitant.
The University of Iowa is twice as expensive to attend for in-state students when compared to the adjacent Kirkwood Community College, according to a straightforward comparison. Kirkwood charges $186.00 for each semester credit hour of coursework, whereas University of Iowa announced a $337.00 tuition price for residents in 2021. For pupils from other states,
Even more of a price discrepancy might exist. Kirkwood University charges an annual tuition of $7,470 for out-of-state students. The University of Iowa charges $31,905 in tuition and fees for non-resident students for one academic year.
International students, who are regarded as out-of-staters, pay the highest tuition rates to attend public universities because those institutions charge extra for students who are not citizens of the state in which they are located. Since they pay the highest tuition at four-year institutions, international students are sought after by employers. By attending a junior college for two years, a student can save a ton of money and get an opportunity to practice their language abilities before transferring to a school where each credit hour is more expensive.
There is no need to ever explain where the Uni3. Additional Professional Training/Licensure
Community colleges can be a great option for many individuals who have earned degrees but lack the necessary curriculum for licensure (such as for teaching and nursing), such as the RN to BSN upgrading program at Austin Community College. There are frequently mandates for additional courses to satisfy new academic criteria due to the plethora of professional licensures out there that are constantly upgrading their requirements for both local and foreign professionals. Community colleges frequently provide this type of education. Many 2-year universities provide curriculum in dental hygiene, medical imaging, radiologic technology, automotive technology, and welding.versity of Maryland is to someone. State flagship institutions have renowned football teams. Harvard has cache (and tons of financing for students). But after all is said and done, community colleges appear to be a fantastic financial choice when compared to the costs of tertiary education.
2. Superior
The current practice of using graduate students to instruct lower-division courses has drawn criticism from both academic staff and students. While this method enables graduate students to gain practical experience in the classroom and lessens the departmental staffing burden, both students and faculty complain that it has an adverse effect on the employment of licensed professionals. The intriguing aspect of these courses is that they are a shared experience among students who do not complete their degrees, despite the fact that they frequently rank among the first classes taken in undergraduate programs. With graduate teaching starting as early as a program's second semester, Both the instructor and the student could fail to get their degrees.
The absence of graduate student professors is one of the reassuring aspects of attending a community college for your education. Due to the nature of the institution, community colleges do not accept graduate students, thus the education you receive will be provided by a qualified individual.
You can frequently find the same professors at nearby institutions because community college professors sometimes also teach at 4-year colleges and universities.
3. Additional Professional Training/Licensure
Community colleges can be a great option for many individuals who have earned degrees but lack the necessary curriculum for licensure (such as for teaching and nursing), such as the RN to BSN upgrading program at Austin Community College. There are frequently mandates for additional courses to satisfy new academic criteria due to the plethora of professional licensures out there that are constantly upgrading their requirements for both local and foreign professionals. Community colleges frequently provide this type of education. Many 2-year universities provide curriculum in dental hygiene, medical imaging, radiologic technology, automotive technology, and welding.
4. Direct Entry and Dual Credit Programs
There are numerous programs offered by community colleges that permit transfer between institutions and programs. Schemes like direct entrance and dual credit can be excellent options for continuing your education. These programs can make it easier to move from lower-division classes to upper-division academic topics or from secondary education to postsecondary studies.
Different from the occasionally also offered AP curriculum are dual credit classes (Advanced Placement). A student may earn college credit in addition to conventional high school unit hours by successfully completing an examination in an AP class, which are upper-level high school courses. Dual credit courses are high school coursework provided at a community college that, upon successful completion, will grant the student college credit hours at that institution of the team. One such curriculum is provided by Nebraska's Northeast Community College.
Universities also have lateral/direct entrance programs that offer students a surefire way forward after completing their lower-division coursework. Following completion of a community college program, agreements between community colleges and affiliated 4-year schools can provide entrance for further study through lateral/direct entry schemes and transfer agreements.
Two of the most well-liked options among foreign students are Orange Coast College and Green River Community College. Orange Coast College aggressively promotes its status as a transfer college for the California State University and University of California systems. With dozens of universities, Green River Community College has route agreements. One of the first community colleges was Green River Community College.
Many community institutions provide lateral transfer programs of this nature. For overseas students, they represent a fantastic opportunity to expedite admission into advanced, discipline-specific courses in settings with reasonable class numbers, affordable credit hours, and capable professional support.
Different from the occasionally also offered AP curriculum are dual credit classes (Advanced Placement). A student may earn unspecified college credit in addition to their regular high school unit hours by successfully completing an examination in an AP class, which are upper-level high school classes. Dual credit courses are high school classes provided at a community college that, following successful completion of the course, will grant the student college credit hours at that institution.
5. Open Signup
Open enrollment is a selling element for the great majority of community institutions. The open enrollment policy differs in colleges in Iowa, Ohio, California, and North Carolina. Community colleges, with a few notable exceptions, will admit any student as long as they have a benchmark secondary school completion certification, in the US that would be a high school diploma. For those who don't meet the criteria for entrance, some community colleges even offer high school completion programs. For this reason, a lot of people decide to enroll in community colleges where they can frequently raise their GPA for upcoming academic endeavors.
In the US, four-year universities frequently cause community schools to be disregarded due to the draw of the name-brand and enormous recruitment budgets. These institutions offer their students a ton of value. Both domestic and foreign students have long had misconceptions about these institutions. These schools provide a remarkable option for affordable, high-quality education in contrast. No other institutions can compete with the benefits these two-year schools bring to their communities, from transfer programs to licensure requirements. A community college can frequently offer the best time and financial value for both domestic and international students.
