Choosing between community college and university is always a difficult decision, so as someone who attended both, here are the biggest pros and cons of community college in my experience.
This is by no means, me condemning or recommending attending community college first. I think that’s a very personal choice, and you should consider the situation you are in and what your goals are.
Lower Cost of Attendance
The most obvious reason anyone chooses to attend community college is because of the lower tuition and overall cost compared to public or private 4 year schools. We are all conscious of the $1.6 trillion student loan debt crisis in the U.S., and how this number is only expected to grow in the next five years. Aside from the collective, carrying a significant amount of student debt can contribute to mental health issues and be a burden for decades after graduation.
Below is a comparison between the cost of attending community college, and the cost of attending a 4-year public school in the state of Pennsylvania.
When weighing the financial question, it is also worth taking into consideration whether you see yourself attending graduate school for your prospective career. Graduate school tuition is typically higher than undergraduate tuition, so even in attending a 2-year graduate program, you can expect to collect a similar debt amount to that of a 4-year undergraduate program. With that in mind, you may want to save as much as you can on your education earlier on, because you may not be able to do so at the graduate level.
Smaller Class Sizes
Small class sizes make it easier to develop a relationship with your professor, which can be helpful for receiving personalized letters of recommendation when transferring, or receiving help if you are taking a challenging class.
At public schools where there are 60+ students in a class, it can be much more difficult to develop a relationship with your professor, and you are less likely to have a professor who is available to help you with class materials throughout the week.
This can make it challenging to get through a course at times. You need to have good study habits established to thrive in demanding courses at a university, so if you have struggled with studying in the past, it can be useful to build up your study skills at a community college first.
You are also much more likely to ask questions and participate in class conversations when in a smaller class setting. This is the best way to be an active participant in your learning and verify and deepen your understanding of concepts being discussed.
Community College Is an Opportunity to Improve Your Application
If you are someone who didn’t do great in high school, community college can be a fantastic option to improve your academic record and prove that you can do well with college level coursework. If you then choose to transfer to a 4-year school in the future, you are likely to open a lot more doors to institutions that you didn’t have the stats to attend straight out of high school.
Additionally, if you are someone who did well in high school but didn’t get into the college of your dreams, community college is an opportunity to prove that you can be just as successful at the college level, and show your dedication to your passions through new projects or commitments you undertake.
After my 2 years at community college, I had more to add to my application that demonstrated my capabilities, desires, and goals, which shows admissions committees how much you’ve grown since high school. I was accepted to the college I had previously been wait-listed at, and although I chose not to attend, to have the opportunity was worth the unexpected community college detour.
Even if you still don’t get accepted to your dream school, by excelling in high school and community college, you are bound to open other amazing doors of opportunity when transferring.
Course & Scheduling Flexibility
If you are someone who isn’t sold on a particular major or career path and are going to college hoping to find your path, community college may be the best option to try out different courses of study. Many students choose to focus on elective courses in community college, as those tend to be the course credits that transfer most easily, but these courses also offer you:
- The best diversity of subjects
- Schedule and planning flexibility
If you plan on working throughout college, community college offers great flexibility in course scheduling. You’ll find options for morning, afternoon, and evening classes, and a number of courses offered in the summer and winter, so you can spread your courses throughout the year if you need a more even distribution between school and work.
Additionally, if you choose to take extra courses in the summer or interim to try out something new, you will spend much less money than if you were to take extra courses at a university. Community college offers you greater flexibility to change your mind and switch majors because you know the financial repercussions of doing so aren’t as high as they are at a 4-year school. If you know you are indecisive and unsure of what major would be best for you, community college may be the best option to start your higher education before you embark on a more permanent path.
Challenging Social Life
A big part of college and for many, the primary focus of college, is the social aspect, and from my experience the social life at community college was not noteworthy.
The sense of community that comes from leaving the place and people you grew up with is missing with community college. Most students are still living with their parents and have a friend or two who are still in town, so they tend to stick around those they are familiar with.
Every situation is of course, what you make of it. I made a few friends while in community college, but after we transferred, those bonds weren’t strong enough to keep us together. It doesn’t have to be that way for you, if you make it a priority to make new friends, you might even end up transferring to the same school together.
In addition to the possible social strain, there’s also no Greek life, and in most cases no dorms or off-campus housing, making partying opportunities limited. Whether or not you look forward to partying, it is still a major part of college expectations that probably won’t be fulfilled at community college.
Ease of Academics
This could be a pro or con depending on who you ask. For me, it resulted in a rude awakening when I transferred schools. As it turns out, I was not quite the academic prodigy I thought I was, and I struggled through my first two semesters at my transfer school in a way I never had before.
If you’re a perfectionist, you’re aware “failure” can be maddeningly stressful for us, and although it’s better to have some ego-bursting moments sooner rather than later, it felt more like being thrown into the deep end of the pool. At the end, I did swim, but not without feeling like I was sinking below the surface and taking a few gulps of harsh waters.
The idea that classes are easier at community colleges is not true across the board however. Some schools- community college or otherwise- are certainly tougher than others, and more significantly, some professors within the same school have higher expectations than others. I have known plenty of people who say the work in community college was on par with their 4-year school, and many others who say it was not. Do you plan on transferring to a school that is known for its challenging academics? If so, this may have an adjustment period. Trust yourself to swim.
Staying at Home
Again, this can be pro or con, and although this con is more dependent on the individual, it is certainly worth considering if being at home contributes greatly to your happiness or stress.
For me, I was ready to leave home. I didn’t get away when I went to community college, and although I don’t regret the decision now, I wasn’t necessarily happy at the time.
If you are in a difficult home situation that you know you need to get out of, or if you know you don’t want to leave home for whatever reason, I think that is worth honoring. Don’t make a decision because you feel a better opportunity won’t come around again, or because you’ve worked to convince yourself staying where you are would be okay. Additionally, don’t persuade yourself the only way to leave your home is by attending college. Everyone’s case is very individualized, and there’s serious value in recognizing your gut feeling, trusting it will work itself out even if the path doesn’t seem clear at the moment, and not paralyzing yourself by overthinking your choices you could never know the end result to.
Lack of Employer Connections
The value of alumni connections and your school’s relationships to particular companies should not be overlooked. Alumni from small or well-known colleges and universities may sometimes have an easier time getting into a particular company, because many of the graduates of that school work there. There can be a power to graduating from a specific program from a school that is recognized for their academics. Some schools routinely pump out graduates who work in a specific target industry, such as engineering or film.
That raises the question, is it worth acquiring tens of thousands in debt, or moving somewhere you don’t want to be in order to attend? Only you can decide if anything is worth it for you.
I would also wager to say, this is the least important aspect to take into consideration. The university you attend to earn your bachelor’s degree will be the most significant on your applications (not community college), and no school can promise you the career trajectory of your dreams. What will always be the most important determinants of your success, is your commitment to improving your skills, focus on networking, maintaining your work ethic, and believing in yourself.
Just because you don’t have any alumni links to a Fortune 500 company, doesn’t mean you won’t be happy, and just because you couldn’t land a dream role straight out of college, doesn’t mean you won’t get there later.
Community College or University? How to Make the Choice
If, while reading this, you felt that in spite of the pros, you still knew you wanted to go to a university, or in spite of the cons, you know you want to stay at home- do that!
Neither choice is a determinate of your fate. Trust that the choice you make is exactly what you need, and continue doing your part to achieve your goals.
Do you have your own pros and cons list for community college, or wisdom to share regarding your experience? Share them with us!
