With so many paths to a degree, why choose community college?
By Ashley Gonzalez
When people encounter four-year universities and have the opportunity to choose between private universities, the UCs, and the CSUs there are still many individuals choosing community college as their starting point for their academic journeys, why is this so?
Four-year universities
California is home to hundreds of universities, there seems to be an endless amount of options for those seeking a higher education. There seems to be an option for just about everyone, but the cost of each institution can quickly become a factor that causes options to become more and more limited.
Student debt and loans
When choosing a route to fulfill a higher education, it’s important to recognize the financial burden that it may be bestowing. With scholarships and financial aid not being received by everyone, money stretches that much thinner. Even with scholarships and financial aid being factored in, many of these institutions are still setting tuition at an inaccessible amount, this leaves students with no choice but to take on the burden of taking out student loans.
Graduating and earning a degree is a great accomplishment that deserves to be celebrated, but celebration is difficult when it is overshadowed by the looming presence of student debt. It's difficult to be excited to join the workforce in your new career when you’re immediately hit with the realization that you’ll be paying off your degree with the additional cost of interest rates, many people continuing to pay for several years on end.
Tuition
For most, higher education does not entail an all-expense-paid experience. Most do not have the luxury of being able to choose whichever school they desire without factoring in the cost of tuition. Over the course of their academic journey, costs add up quickly and now many want to take on such a financial burden at a young age. Community college can seem like the most financially reasonable choice for many in their journeys.
These experiences are the stories of many of SBVC’s alumni. A 2019 SBVC graduate named Jaime Cruz recounted her own experience that helped her recently secure a stable job in her chosen field without being overwhelmed by student loans. She admitted that had initially planned to obtain her degree at UCR, her dream school, but that nobody had prepared her for the price of tuition. She made the decision to attend SBVC because it provided her with the opportunity to save thousands of dollars over the course of the three years that it took her to obtain her associate's degree. As a teacher, she now continues to encourage all of her students to be open to community college and the pathways that it can open for students.
Resources
Aside from being affordable in respect to tuition, community colleges also tend to offer a variety of resources at no cost to alleviate stress for students. Our own college offers support for veterans, single parents, those facing food insecurity, first-generation college students, undocumented students, and more. Studying towards a degree is a lot less stressful when there are support systems in place to walk you through your journey. Unlike a typical four-year institution, these resources seem more accessible and less intimidating to reach out for help, community colleges can offer an environment that feels more welcoming to those who are unsure in their journey.
Accessibility
It's no secret that the appeal of community college is greatly focused on the low cost of tuition, but this is not the only contributing factor. For many who are returning to education, four-year institutions may seem intimidating and overwhelming. Community colleges work to bridge that gap by providing the resources that might overwhelm both returning and new students.
This accessibility definitely plays a role in many student’s choice to choose community college. A current SBVC student named Jessica Diaz, an education major, recounted how she was drawn to SBVC when she heard about the free books and supplies that were being offered to students. After being accustomed to hearing college students complain about outrageous textbook prices, she was intrigued by this opportunity and it’s one of the many factors that helped her choose community college for the start of her higher education journey.
Flexibility
Community college can also offer a flexibility that most four-year institutions aren’t able to accommodate. Students even have the opportunity to receive certain degrees through programs that are entirely online and, there are also options for night classes or weekend classes. Overall, students have much more flexibility in how their workload can be dispersed. Four-year institutions may not be as welcoming or accommodating towards the busy lives of students while community colleges usually even advertise this flexibility as one of their important values.
Transfer Process
The idea of transferring to a four-year institution after obtaining a degree at a community college may seem daunting and may initially deter students from pursuing this route. At a glance, it might seem more straightforward and simple to just attend the four-year institution from the very beginning, but it’s important to acknowledge how hard community colleges are working to bridge the gap to students’ next step in their education. At SBVC, students are presented with counselors who walk you through every step of the process to ensure a smooth transition, achieving your goal of transferring is made simple when counselors are there to guide you and ensure that you’re on the right path. Once graduation is in sight, workshops begin to be announced and promoted throughout the campus.
Setting up for success
While beginning the path of higher education may not sound as impressive or interesting at a community college as it would at a four-year institution, there are some important factors that students are clearly acknowledge in their journey. Whether it be the low cost of tuition, the support, flexibility, or something more, students at community colleges are left with an endless amount of reasons to justify beginning their journey at a community college. Each path to a degree is unique, but community college has proven to be a great starting point for many.
Comments