Community College vs. 4-Year University: Which pathway is right for you?

Deciding where to study, or, indeed, if to study, for a degree is far from an easy task. When you look at all the factors you should consider before applying, from degree subject and location to food and social life, it’s difficult enough already without asking yourself whether the right choice is university at all.

However, that is probably the most vital question, as there are countless other paths available to you that would be just as good, if not better, for you as they may cater to your needs and desires more precisely.

One of these is community colleges. Many students are faced with the dilemma of whether to take a two-year ‘Associate’s’ degree at a higher-education community college before enrolling for their final two years at a university, or to enrol directly from school in a four-year university degree. This is because both pathways have advantages and disadvantages, and some students are better suited to one over the other. What’s best for you depends, among other things, on your plans, how you learn, what you want to study, and your financial arrangements.

This guide will take you through all these aspects and bring you closer to working out which might be the best choice for you.

Benefits of attending community college

Finances

On average, the fees of community colleges are half those of university, mainly because they don’t have the latter’s overheads. This, naturally, reduces overall studying costs significantly and your ultimate student debt. That said, this could be offset by living costs as community colleges often don’t have student accommodation, so the more expensive option of renting privately is sometimes the only option.

Admissions

Community colleges generally have ‘open admissions/enrolment’, meaning that they fill their courses on a first-come, first-served basis, and without competitive entry requirements. This obviously makes it easier to be accepted to study a course of your choice, but you would need to ensure your application is submitted in good time as the course could very quickly become oversubscribed.

Class sizes

Compared to universities, community colleges generally have smaller class sizes (approximately 25–35 students, but sometimes fewer). Such a comparatively small number can lead to greater interaction with academics and peers, in contrast to the sometimes vast numbers in university lecture halls. As such, there could be greater opportunity to become involved in discussions, and learning could feel more personal.

Schedules

Community colleges are used to welcoming students from different backgrounds and with pre-existing responsibilities, such as a job or childcare. This translates into greater flexibility allowed in timetables and schedules compared to a university. So, if you have significant commitments outside of studying, or may in the future, a community college might accommodate these better than a mainstream university.

Location

It’s often the case that locals will attend their nearest community college, rather than move away to one. One reason is that they already have an established life in that area that they don’t wish to interrupt. Another is that they can save money by living at home. Obviously, if you’re an international student you won’t be able to live at home and will need to rent somewhere, but living with a local family could be a cost-effective means to do this.

Transfer pathways

A commonly trodden path, and a well-established one, is to embark on a 2 + 2 pathway, which is to attend a community college for two years and then transfer to a university for the final two years of your degree. This enables you to get a feel for the subject, save money, and obtain an Associate’s degree, before completing two more years and coming out with a Bachelor’s degree from the university of your choice.

Benefits of attending a 4-year university

Range of degrees programmes

Given the fact that universities cater to a broader national and international student community, and have the funding that comes with that, it is unsurprising that they can offer a far greater range of subjects at degree-level than a community college can. This means that, at a university, your chosen subject is more likely to be available (particularly if it’s niche), and you will have a more eclectic set of minor options to choose from too.

College experience

For some people, a lot of the enjoyment of being a student comes from living as one, for example living on campus and in a dorm, joining societies and teams, and socialising with others from across the world. These aspects are naturally more limited at a community college, which is smaller, has less funding, and caters to a local population. That said, all universities and community colleges are different, so do your research before assuming what you might or might not find when you get there.

Alumni networks

By virtue of having diverse national and international student bodies, universities have established strong and influential alumni networks across the globe. This means that, on the whole, more opportunities for internships, employment, and networking are on offer there than at a community college. If this is important to you, look into this aspect at both the colleges and universities you are considering in order to ensure a fruitful one has been established already.

Reputation

Rightly or wrongly, reputation and global recognition count for a lot. It goes without saying that some universities have become international brands and are far more likely to be known across the world than, say, a small community college. That said, though, don’t allow apparent prestige and a ‘brand name’ lure you into spending the next four years somewhere you’ll be unhappy and not flourish, as that will count against you more than doing well and thriving somewhere less famous.

Facilities and resources

With money come opportunities, facilities, and resources for research, learning, and development. It stands to reason that a major university will have far more of these at its disposal than a small-town community college, and it will therefore be able to offer you them too. That’s not to be dismissed lightly, and it should be taken into account when weighing up what matters to you most when choosing where to do your degree, but occasionally other factors count for more.

Direct entry into Bachelor’s degree

By launching into a bachelor’s degree from the very start, this removes the need to begin at one institution and to learn how things work there, before then transferring to another one somewhere else. Knowing you’re in one place for four years can be a comfort to some, but a source of displeasure to others who might want a change of scene, greater variety, and to explore different modes of learning and living in another location. Consider what you’d be happiest doing before making your decision.

Why many students choose to attend community college first

Affordability

As your first foray into higher education, it sometimes makes sense to choose a less costly commitment first, before you know that both your subject and a degree in general are right for you. Students find that these first two years at a community college help them to work this out without signing up to large loans, etc., while also providing them with a firm foundation for university later.

Exploring majors

It is quite possible that you don’t have much idea of what you want to study, or that you aren’t sure if a subject is right for you, or that numerous subjects appeal equally to you. Community college can help you narrow this down in a less demanding, less costly environment before embarking on two final years at university. You should see this as thorough preparation for what is to come later, once you’re sure of your choice of major.

Transfer to universities

Community colleges have well-established pathways for transferring to university after your two-year ‘Associate’s Degree’. This is because they work on a credit system, whereby the credits gained from taking courses at community college will, in most cases, be transferred and honoured by the receiving university, meaning you will be deemed to have completed the equivalent of the first two years at that university. Be sure to check, however, that your chosen university will accept the credits you obtained from your chosen community college.

Building academic confidence

It’s a daunting prospect entering higher education, and not being ready at 18 years old is nothing to be ashamed of. Many feel they need a bit more time both to work out what they want to do and to work out how to do it. Attending a community college first can smooth that transition and help you to build your academic confidence before attending a university. The subject-specific and general academic grounding a community college gives can help students fare better in their final two years at university.

Key differences to consider

• Cost: tuition fees; living costs; financial packages; debt.
• Admissions: competitive vs. open-entry; demand for subjects.
• Academic options: associate’s vs. bachelor’s degrees; transfer routes; subjects catered for.
• Student life: national and international vs. local; campus vs. private; extra-curricular options.
• Career prospects: reputation, renown, and perception; earning potential; alumni networks.
  
  

Does attending community college affect your CV?

• Remember that attending a community college can still lead to your obtaining a degree from the university you finish at, if that’s the path you want to take. As such, it doesn’t matter where you start as much as where you finish, so your final degree from your chosen university will be just as legitimate as if you had begun your four years there.
  

• Employers value resourcefulness and commitment. Demonstrating that you thought about where to study and how, taking into account your circumstances and desires, will count for a lot more to an employer than if you had simply chosen to study a degree somewhere in spite of these things and suffered as a result.
  

• Substantive and meaningful attributes, such as demonstrable skills, grades achieved, and experience gained, matter more than the name of the institution you attended or where you began to get where you are now. Choosing somewhere you will do well should be your prime consideration.

Should you attend community college or go straight into university?

• Research, reading, and reflection are key to helping you decide what to study and where to study it. Look into all available options, what they mean in practice for you and your ultimate goals, and how they might help or hinder the achievement of these.
  

• The most valuable research is often conducted through speaking to those who’ve come before you. Seek out alumni, career advisors, and current students to see what their advice is. Attend campus open days, visit colleges and their environs, and look into any established transfer pathways.
  

• For more in-depth guidance and a bespoke consultation, look no further than A-List’s university advising service, which will help you with selecting universities, developing an admissions strategy, and working out how and when to apply – and much more besides!

Conclusion

In summary, community colleges and universities offer similar but distinctly different pathways to the same end goal – success for you, in whatever form that comes. Starting at a community college does not prevent you from finishing at a university with a bachelor’s degree, and it could even be more beneficial for you than jumping straight into university life. Equally, after beginning at community college, you may find that higher education isn’t for you at all, you’ll still come out with something to show for it, and your initial investment will only have been a fraction of what it would have been at university. That said, going directly to university is the right choice for a lot of people, and they flourish there from the very start. The main thing is that you take account of your goals, desires, and circumstances to ensure that whatever you choose is going to be right for you.

Book a free 30-minute session with one of our consultants today to discuss your best path forward.