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How do community colleges and four-year colleges
or universities differ?
In general, community colleges are two-year schools that offer a wide
diversity of courses and associate degree offerings for career programs
or for transfer to four-year schools. Community colleges award certificates
and associate degrees to their graduates. Certificate programs develop
essential skills in a particular career area, but not at the same level
of completeness as the associate degree. Most community colleges are commuter
schools.
Some four-year colleges offer associate degrees but most offer bachelor’s
degrees. Universities also offer master’s and doctoral degree programs.
Ordinarily, classes taken at public four-year institutions cost two or
three times more than those at community colleges. Classes taken at private
four-year colleges can cost up to 10 times more!
Are community college instructors as good as those
at four-year colleges and universities?
Except in some technical career areas, most teaching positions at community
colleges require a master’s degree or higher. More importantly, community
colleges place a heavy emphasis on faculty having “real world”
experience. In other words, you won’t be taught by an absentee professor’s
teaching assistant. Also, the average class size at community colleges
is much smaller.
If I graduate from a community college, can I transfer
the credits to a four-year college or university?
The modern community college is increasingly becoming the school of “first
choice” for students pursuing technical, career related degrees as
well as for those who plan to transfer their community college credits
to a four-year institution. In Ohio, most community college coursework
transfers to four-year colleges and universities.
What kinds of students attend community colleges?
Community colleges attract a wider age range of students than traditional
four-year institutions. The average student age at community colleges
is 29 years. On average 58% of all students are women and 63% attend part-time.
Are good jobs available to community college graduates?
Employment for associate degree graduates is expected to grow by 18.5%
over the next 10 years. This is significantly higher than the 11.3% average
for all occupations during this period. Community college graduates earn
$250,000 more, on average, in a lifetime than people with high school
diplomas.
Why are community colleges less expensive to attend
than four-year colleges and universities?
Many community colleges have a local tax which supports the college, in
addition to student fees and state support. Also, community colleges generally
do not have the “high overhead” of major colleges and universities
such as hospitals, football stadiums, and high profile athletic teams.
Aren’t community colleges just glorified vocational
schools?
There was a time when the majority of two-year colleges offered a narrow
choice of technical, or career related programs. That is no longer the
case. Today’s community colleges offer a wide choice of degree programs
from art and engineering to physics and zoology.
Do community colleges have clubs and organizations
to which I can belong?
Absolutely! There are honor societies, leadership development, curriculum,
special interest, athletic, and religious clubs and organizations. Most
community colleges also have intercollegiate athletic teams and clubs
too.
Do employers recruit at community colleges?
You bet! Three-quarters of all jobs require no more than two years of
education beyond high school. Ohio community colleges offer training in
11 of the 12 hottest career fields of the next decade.
Gary Honnert, Director of Public Information, Sinclair
Community College.
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Community College Q & A