| It's not news to anyone that college costs are | | | | with hundreds of students. At community colleges, |
| skyrocketing. The average cost of one year at a | | | | class sizes rarely exceed 30 students. So, |
| private college or university has risen to a shocking | | | | paradoxically, community college students receive |
| $31,465. It's no wonder that parents and students | | | | more individualized attention yet pay much less for |
| look at that number and wonder whether a college | | | | that privilege. |
| degree is in their reach at all. However, many families | | | | Instructors at the community college level are |
| overlook the tremendous costs savings that could be | | | | required to hold a Master's degree in their instructional |
| achieved by attending a community college for two | | | | area. Some have pointed to this as evidence that |
| years. Tuition at community college is typically half | | | | community colleges cannot provide the same quality |
| that of a public institution and just one-tenth that of | | | | of instruction as colleges and universities that employ |
| a private institution. | | | | professors with Doctoral degrees. However, very |
| For many years, community colleges fought the | | | | few of those professors actually teach the core |
| image that they were the last resort for students | | | | courses that students take during their first two |
| who couldn't get in anywhere else and that their | | | | years of college. Additionally, community college |
| programs were not as challenging or comprehensive | | | | instructors often have real-world employment |
| and those at larger colleges universities. Today, | | | | experience that gives them a more practical |
| however, community colleges are thriving centers | | | | perspective than university professors, who are |
| that not only provide state-of-the-art career | | | | immersed in the world of academia. |
| education, but also provide a high-quality educational | | | | Transferring to a larger institution at the end of two |
| foundation for students who wish to transfer to a | | | | years at community college is often easier than being |
| college or university after two years. | | | | admitted as a Freshman. Also, many states |
| Because most colleges and universities, regardless of | | | | guarantee admission to their state colleges and |
| size, require students to take core courses in their | | | | universities to community college graduates who |
| first two years before choosing a major, taking | | | | maintain a certain grade point average. Even |
| these courses at the community college level will | | | | prestigious Ivy League colleges like Harvard, Yale and |
| save money. Additionally, core courses at the | | | | Brown have accepted transfer students from |
| university level are often held in large lecture halls | | | | community colleges. |