



While the costs can be a major benefit to enrolling in community college, there are some potential limitations and drawbacks you should consider as well. What to Know if You Plan to Start at a Community College Going to community college, then transferring to a four-year school, could save you around $64,000 over two years. This number doesn’t include room and board, books, or other living costs-that’s a lot of money! This is especially true when compared to community colleges, which charge an average of about $3,660 per year for in-state tuition. According to the US News and World Report, the average cost of tuition and fees for the 2018-2019 school year was $35,676 for private colleges, $9,716 for in-state tuition at public colleges, and $21,629 or out-of-state tuition at public colleges. One of the biggest differences between community college and a four-year school is the cost. Some programs are designed to be self-contained in those two years, but most students transfer to a four-year school to get their bachelor’s degree after. What is the Difference Between a Community College and a Four-Year University?Ĭommunity colleges are two-year public institutions that offer associate degrees and certificates. Read on to find out if you should consider attending a community college and then transfer to a four-year school. There are a few main considerations to make while trying to decide if community college is the right move for you, including finances and professional goals. However, this might not be the right choice for everyone. For many students, that will mean a four-year institution. It’s easy to get so caught up in hearing about everyone else’s college plans that students might fail to consider what works best for their goals.
