We'll explore the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly of Community College vs University. Dr. Allen Grove is an Alfred University English professor and a college admissions expert with 20 years of experience helping students transition to college. Community colleges typically have much less strict admission requirements than universities. In fact, many have open admission policies, meaning any person who graduates high school and applies gets accepted. College is more suitable for those interested in more technical and vocational expertise, while university is better for those who are research-oriented and want graduate opportunities. For 50 years, a four-year degree has been the first prerequisite to the American middle class. This does not mean that community colleges don't have athletic teams and student clubs and organizations; many do. These general credits can then be transferred to a four-year college to earn a bachelor's degree. Due to these huge price differences, many students choose to complete a two-year degree program at their local community college and then transfer to a university to complete their studies and earn a higher degree. You'll want to register and enroll early to guarantee your seat in a class. The University of California system charges over $13,000 for in-state students. Depending on location, this may or may not be higher than room and board at 4-year universities. While a four-year school may offer Bachelor's degrees, many community and junior colleges only offer two-year or Associate's degrees. What is the difference? These agreements allow for a smoother transition from a two-year community college to … Most four-year colleges offer bachelor’s degrees with some also offering associate degrees. Most four-year colleges offer bachelor’s degrees with some also offering associate degrees. However, before a college can apply for university status, there are a minimum of four requirements that must be met for at least five years: Programs. Meal plans are also offered at most universities. Courses, Jobs, Salaries, What You Need to Know About New York State’s Free College Tuition, Ph.D., English, University of Pennsylvania, M.A., English, University of Pennsylvania, B.S., Materials Science & Engineering and Literature, MIT. Tuition is also significantly lower than at a university. This on-campus living adds another dimension to the overall cost of school and is known as room and board. The College Board estimates that when room and board is taken … A four-year residential college would not be on option in such situations. Community colleges are almost always commuter campuses, so students live at home where they can save money on room, board, and many fees associated with residential campuses. In some cases, they also offer advanced degrees in … Harvard University, for example, has a sticker price around $80,000 a year.A low income student, however, will attend Harvard for free. Community College. Besides the time-frame needed to complete a degree, another big difference between a community college and a university is campus size. Admission standards for universities is much more variable. Of course, community college students have other costs to consider tuition and fees. Community colleges and universities each have their own advantages and disadvantages, and they have significant differences when it comes to admissions, academics, costs, and student life. However, a college and a university can often mean very different things depending on the context and the country. Many students don't realize that if they plan on working while attending school, community college is hands down the best option. Community College Pros and Cons . In university vs. college, which one takes precedence? Two-year community or junior colleges often offer short-term programs, certificate programs, and associate degrees. Perhaps the most fascinating starting point for all musicians looking into college for music is deciding between the conservatory and university. One of the hardest decisions a high school graduate face is the choice between attending a Community College or a University. Most universities, on the other hand, offer both undergraduate and graduate degrees. The first step to attending college is getting in. Community colleges are almost always commuter campuses, so students live at home where they can save money on room, board, and many fees associated with residential campuses. Support: Students often receive more support during their transition from high school. However, for many careers in industry, education, and government, you're going to need a minimum of a four-year degree from a college or university. In fact, according to an infographic created with information from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), the average class size at community colleges ranges from 25-35, while classes at universities can have 150-300 students! Remember to keep in mind the differences between degrees, cost, admission requirements, living arrangements and class sizes when making your decision. Factors such as admissions essays, extracurricular activities, and letters of recommendation can play a significant role in a university's admissions decision. • Those looking to start with a job soon after completing their course can join community college instead of a university. College vs. University: The Actual Meaning. Community college is also becoming an increasingly affordable option in comparison to the sky high tuition of university and increasing unemployment rates. That said, community colleges are much cheaper than universities; in fact, the College Board reports that the average annual cost of tuition and fees for a public 2-year college is $3,440 for in-district students. That's what these schools are all about: offering local students the opportunity to study in a way that's accessible to them. According to 2011 statistics , the average tuition for public two year institutions was only $2,713, making a total of a little over $5,000 in total owed, not to mention the $1700 in Pell Grant Aid money offered to community college students. This article will clarify some of the questions about the differences between a college and a university, both in terms of their dictionary meaning and their use in colloquial speech. Community college is a lot less expensive than university. Community colleges have open admissions and award two-year associate's degrees as well as offer some certificate and one-year programs. While college and university have come to mean the same thing colloquially, they actually refer to two very different institutions: College is typically a smaller, goal-oriented institution that offers only undergraduate programs. As you decide whether or not a community college is right for you, be careful not to confuse the sticker price with the cost. Universities are much larger than community colleges; some universities in the United States have over a hundred thousand students. 1. At a four-year residential university, the great majority of students will be involved in multiple clubs, and the options for getting involved in athletics will be far greater than at a community college. Sometimes experiencing a slice of campus life is the only way to know what you want. However, according to the same source, the average annual cost for a public 4-year university is $9,410 for in-state students and $23,890 for out-of-state students. Tuition and fees can be expensive, and students frequently live on campus. Universities tend to be much pickier when it comes to admissions, which means you better be ready to do more than just submit an application. So, if your college applications are looming, here are four key reasons to put community colleges versus universities on your academic radar: Cost: Community colleges are usually less expensive. First on the list of differences between community colleges and universities is the type of degrees and programs offered. The differences are crazy, aren't they?! Weighing the pros and cons of each can help you pick the best fit. Tuition is also significantly lower than at a university. For example, Williams College, Amherst College… Class size is also something to consider when deciding on a community college or a university. The College Board estimates that when room and board is taken … Programs are typically two years long. The main difference between liberal arts college majors and university majors is that liberal arts schools generally offer one expansive area of study, whereas at universities, the same major may be broken into two or more degree tracks. Along with access, low cost is one of the greatest benefits of community college. A college (Latin: collegium) is an educational institution or a constituent part of one. While costs are varied and depend upon a myriad of factors, it is … Commuter campuses tend to have far less going on when it comes to student life since students leave school when their classes are over. ThoughtCo uses cookies to provide you with a great user experience and for our, 10 Best Colleges for Environmental Science Majors, SUNY vs. CUNY: Comparing New York's College Systems, Open Admissions at Colleges and Universities. Community College. Tuition is low, and students tend to be local and commute. Keep reading to get the lowdown so you can make an informed decision about the next step in your education. Community College vs. A student whose family earns $50,000 a year could go to Harvard University for free because of financial aid. In a nutshell: the funding. That is the core of the community college vs. university debate. Most of the Ivy League schools, for example, have acceptance rates well below 10%. The 7 Best Online Colleges for 2020 Enrollment, The 7 Most Affordable Online Degree Programs of 2020, Public Health Major: Courses, Jobs, Salaries, Understanding Different Types of Colleges, What Is a Communications Major? If you have a high school diploma or have earned a GED, you are eligible to attend a community college. College vs. University: What's the Difference? 5 (1) By Ella Chochrek. Community colleges offer traditional academic classes like math and history that will transfer to a four-year college or university but also offers community programs like resume help to job seekers, or swim classes to children. Before the 1970s, community colleges in the United States were more commonly referred to as junior colleges. A four-year degree isn’t the only path to a fulfilling, high-paying career. The college vs. university decision can be a tough one. That term is still used at some institutions. Receive a 2 month free trial by going to https://skl.sh/jubilee2Get your goodhuman crewneck (limited stock)! Save on Tuition. Community colleges usually are not research hubs like universities because they have different missions. Meanwhile, the U.S. Department of Education defines a university as a group of schools that typically offers many academic programs for undergraduate students, and advanced degrees such as master’s and doctorate degrees. Most community colleges also offer short-term certificate and diploma programs that train you for a specific career. Many community colleges have articulation agreements with four-year colleges and universities. Community colleges give students the chance to start with lower student debt with lower tuition requirements. Some guarantee admission for all students who meet a certain GPA or standardized test threshold. Services, Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), Working Scholars® Bringing Tuition-Free College to the Community. The average cost of tuition and fees at a community college averages just over $3,000 a year. On the other hand, most public universities both provide education to students an… Considerations include cost, which schools you can get accepted to based on your grades, the kind of learning environment that works best for you, and your desired career path. Beyond that, though, you may be faced with quite a few choices when it comes to your education. What is the difference? The average cost of tuition and fees at a community college averages just over $3,000 a year. So what is the real difference between a college and a university? © copyright 2003-2020 Study.com. That’s great! If you want to earn a bachelor's degree, you'll need to attend a four-year college or university. If you attend a “standard” college or university, then your class schedule typically follows a 9-5 day, much like a job would. University VS College: Which one is better? College vs. University. Universities are also likely to have more frequent evening and weekend events such as lectures, musical performances, comedians, trivia nights, hikes, camping trips, and so on. Universities tend to focus on teaching students how to think and solve problems whereas a community college will often be more focused on training a student for a particular profession. Community colleges are founded on the idea of access, and any student who has earned a high school degree can attend. Making the decision between the two is exceptionally important to your future – after all, the four years you spend at college shape your future perhaps more powerfully than any other investment in your life. What Classifies a College? The highest degree offered by community colleges is a two-year associate's degree. Community colleges tend to be smaller than universities and offer more interaction with faculty. There are even community college and junior colleges that provide students with two-year degrees. With all the educational options out there, from two-year career colleges and community colleges to four-year liberal arts colleges and universities, finding the school that suits you best can be a challenge. Most people attend a two-year community college to fulfill their general education requirements and earn an associate's degree. It’s definitely cheaper, and a great way to satisfy your prerequisites before transferring to an expensive four-year college to complete your major. Community College vs University: What’s Right for You? This is not a problem with community colleges, as nearly all have open admissions. According to an article on Learn.org, associate's degrees can be used on their own for jobs that require a 2-year degree or to prepare you for transfer to a university. The community and junior colleges provide students with two-year degrees. What is a College? The decision to attend a community college instead of, or before, a four-year college is complicated and based on many factors. There are a lot of things to consider when it comes to choosing liberal arts college vs. university or vice versa. 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