Comparing University Vs. Community College

One major decision one must make after exiting high school is whether to go to a

university or stay home and go to community college. Although universities and community

colleges serve the same purpose, the two differ in finance, their academic quality, and their level

of independence.

Comparing University and Community college the first thing that comes to mind is the

difference in price. Certain Universities are more expensive than others. The difference in price

is because of the difference in price and size, also because of the difference in the educational

program they have. The price for a University can also differ with whether or not you are going

to live there. With a Community college the price will differ significantly. The difference

in
price strands for the difference in size, teaching and living. At a Community college you have a
smaller campus, the curriculum is different and you do not have the option of living there. The
average in-state cost for one school year at a university is upwards of $19,000, not including
parking, and miscellaneous spending that will occur. According to the College Board, the
average cost of tuition and fees at a two-year school is only $3,131, just over one-third of the
cost for a year at a four-year public institution. Some community colleges also offer four-year
programs for certain majors, meaning you could save even more money on a bachelor’s degree.
A lower tuition rate can save students thousands of dollars toward earning their four-year degree,
if they transfer their credits at the end of a two-year program.
If your student needs more academic support and career guidance, two years at a
community college — or a college with smaller class sizes — could be just right. The smaller
classes and greater teacher-to-student ratio typical of a community college may help your student
experience a smoother transition to college-level coursework. The curriculum is on par with
universities and the classes can be just as challenging. Fewer student to teacher ratio means more
one on one time with student and teacher, therefore enhances a student's learning. It also means
more recognition per student and individual teaching. At Universities there is much less one on
one time. Classrooms and lectures are fully crowded with hundreds of students per one teacher.
Another contrast between Community College and four year University is that some
students are not mentally mature enough to leave home quite yet. As tradition has "moving away
from home when you’re a barely legal adult and living sans parental supervision in a
puke-infested dorm is the American version of painfully unmentionable tribal rites of passage.
It’s a grow-up-quick, sink-or-swim, survival-of-the-fittest situation and it is what memories are
made of.

While it is custom it does not mean that this tradition is for everyone. Right after high

school many students live in fear of leaving home and providing for themselves. For those who

are ready to make it University it is the place where a student can get "the experience of packing

up and leaving your bedroom in your parents' home forever". In contrast Community College

provides life as it at home with a higher level of education

Even if someone can afford to attend a university, they still have to get accepted. This can

be very difficult for some students. It all depends on how tough the school is they are trying to

get into and what type of grades they received in high school. A university can turn down anyone

s application as much as they want. Before someone even wastes the time to apply, they first

need to make sure they meet the university's requirements on the SAT and/or the ACT. However,

community colleges accept anyone who wants to expand their education as long as they have a

high school diploma or a GED. If their SAT or ACT score is too low, they will be placed in

prep
classes so they can get a better grasp at the material they did not excel in.
The University choice today is generally looked at as the better choice for college but
many students may choose Community College as the alternative due to lack of being prepared.
As a result of lack of high school achievements, "Students may not feel that they have a firm
enough grasp of high school material or possibly the grades to allow them to gain admission to a
University program and doing well in it.

For students such as these, a community college may

offer a way to continue their education and strengthen their educational foundations"9. This is a

great compromise between high school and a four year university allowing students to catch up

and feel more confident in themselves. It can push students so far that they, "Are many times

halfway to their Bachelor's degree, already having many of their general education requirements

behind them"10. This puts students in a position so that they are confident and prepared for the

real world more so than they would be if they had to transition straight to a four year University.

Community College and Universities although very different both serve great purposes.

Community College serves a better purpose for those who are not mentally or educationally

prepared to move on to a much higher level education. It also is more fit for those who do not

want the social aspect or who wants more personal one on one attention in class. Universities are

set out there for those who achieved their high school goals and are ready to leave home

and
become more independent. It is also better for the college experience of dorm life and sport
activities. It all depends on the individual student making the choice, their financial status,
maturity level, and their over all wants during their college life.