Should you consider a community college?

September 23, 10:08 AMCollege Admissions ExaminerLauren Starkey

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They’re hot. They’re crowded. And they’re a bargain. No, they're not free outdoor concerts. They're community colleges. America’s two-year schools of higher education are not only making headlines because of record enrollments, but because they’re getting a massive shot in the arm from the federal government. 

In order to meet his goal of having the highest proportion of college graduates in the world (we’re currently seventh, behind Korea, Greece, Poland, Ireland, Belgium, and Hungary) by 2020, President Obama announced the American Graduation Initiative. Obama described the program at a community college in Troy New York earlier this week.  It will “reform and strengthen community colleges from coast to coast so that they get the resources students and schools need – and the results workers and businesses demand. Through this plan, we seek to help an additional five million Americans earn degrees and certificates in the next decade.”

If you’re considering earning an associate’s degree before moving on to a four-year institution, or are seeking affordable, transferable credits in Introductory classes, you’re not alone. The California Board of Regents reports that 30% of University of California graduates transferred from a community college to UC. In Virginia, more than a third of those with bachelor’s degrees had some community college credits.

Here are some tips for making a seamless move from a two- to a four-year school, courtesy of Professors Lynn Jacobs and Jeremy Hyman, authors of Professors’ Guide to Getting Good Grades in College.

1. Complete your associate's degree. National research shows that community college students who finish their degree program complete the baccalaureate at a much higher rate than those students who transfer with simply a grab bag of credits.

2. Shop around. Examine all of the options available to you as a transfer student. Examine both public and private four-year institutions to decide what will be the best fit for you. The four-year institution that you had your heart set on in high school might not ultimately be the best choice for the subject you want to pursue.

3. Plan ahead. The earlier you begin to prepare for transfer, the better. Visit your top choices, collect transfer materials, and find out if there are any transfer agreements between where you are and where you want to go. The more information that you have, the easier it will be to make a decision.

Next week, we’ll discuss Articulation Agreements between community colleges and four-year institutions with Stephen Clemente, President of Peterson’s.

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