What do actor Nick Nolte, major league pitcher Nolan Ryan, and US Senator Olympia Snowe have in common? They all attended community colleges. A community college, or junior college, is an educational institution that provides a higher education to a local community, and grants certificates, diplomas, and Associates’ degrees. For some, the thought of attending a four-year institution is what going to college is all about. But many students are looking into the community college option to save money and satisfy general education credits before transferring to a more expensive 4-year school. So what can a community college offer your child? Let’s take a closer look.

We Are Community
According to the American Association of Community Colleges, community colleges educate more than half of the nation’s undergraduates. One hundred and seven years after the first community college was established–the still-existing Joliet Junior College in Illinois–there are 1,195 of these schools operating in the United States. Many attend community colleges to prepare to transfer to a 4-year institution; upgrade skills for a particular job; to pursue a hobby, like learning a language; or simply to explore other areas of academia. As a result, the average age of a community college student is 29 years old.

Why Community College?
As you probably already know, a 4-year college is expensive and that’s just the public kind. Private schools are even pricier. Nowadays, graduating in four years may be wishful thinking and the longer students stay, the more they (or you) will have to pay. While the average annual cost of a 4-year public college is $5,836 (with state residency), the average annual tuition of a community college is only $2,272. There is also the option of transferring to a 4-year school if your kids wish to complete a higher degree. If they fulfill certain course work, many universities will allow students to transfer in as a junior. The best part is, when they apply to their 4-year school they don’t look at their SAT scores or high school grades. So for those parents with kids who didn’t have a stellar high school academic record and have their sights set on a 4-year school, community college is an appealing alternative. Plus, completing general education at a community college gives students the ability to stay focused on their major when they do transfer to that 4-year school.

Community colleges are also known to be the ideal choice for particular occupations. The AACC reports that 50% of new nurses and the majority of other new health-care workers are educated at community colleges, and close to 80% of firefighters, law enforcement officers, and EMTs are credentialed at community colleges. The five hottest community college programs as of now are registered nursing, law enforcement, licensed practical nursing, radiology, and computer technologies.

Why Not Community College?
Whether or not community college is right for your kids depends on what they want out of their college experience. Although there are some community colleges that offer dorms, most do not. In addition, community colleges tend to have less socializing opportunities in the form of activities, groups, fraternities, and sororities. On the other hand, students will likely enjoy smaller class sizes and have the option of exploring other areas of study without being concerned about staying focused on their major. So if your kids are in need of a less expensive alternative to a 4-year school, a way to circumvent their below average high school performance, or seeking a career in one of the above-mentioned occupations, than community college may be a good fit. Visit www.aacc.nche.edu for more information.