With college acceptance rates getting more competitive by the year, the stigma around community college is clearing, and taking a more affordable path could be a better choice. 

Community colleges are generally two-year colleges that provide an excellent education that some then use to transfer to a four year university. 

While some don’t have a university in the cards due to GPA, or something else within the abundance of requirements needed to stand out in the application pool, more are choosing community college simply because of its benefits. Community college provides numerous perks, that make it a worthwile choice for higher education.

With a majority of private universities charging upward of 30,000 dollars, and public universities around 10,000 dollars, community colleges significantly reduce the amount of financial stress that affects four year university students. 

On top of that, it lets students adjust to college life without having to leave the safety of their own home. 

One student at PVHS, senior Pixie Kinsolving, voices that community college can give you a chance to “figure out what you want to do.” With the average cost of community college being seriously less than universities, it also presents other budgeting options. 

With a lower living cost and more free time to focus on job opportunities, students avoid the mountain of student debt that drowns most students far into their adult life. The median amount of college debt amounts to almost 26,000 dollars, which is far less preferable than the near zero that community college makes. For some people though, money isn’t the problem.

Colleges these days are becoming more and more competitive. Ivy Leagues expect scores over 1500 for the SAT and 34 for the ACT to be a prime candidate for acceptance. A multitude of the American population isn’t able to afford prep classes that help tremendously to improve performance. This isn’t a worry for applicants wishing to attend community college. The students are equipped with open enrollment, which excludes looking at high school grades to determine eligibility. 

Not only does community college give opportunities to aspiring high school students, but also presents a shot for a wide range of adult ages to re-attend if they didn’t have a prior education in higher levels. 

Joanne Lewis in the College and Career Center stated that the flexibility granted to students gives students “time to explore their interests.” 

For some, community college serves as their final stepping stone before going into the workforce, and for others it is only the groundwork before transferring to a four-year university.

There are many transfer opportunities that come with going to a community college. Around 40 percent of students who attend community college transfer to a university. 

Many Sea Kings have transferred to top universities like UCLA. Community college fulfills a key role in teaching a career focused education that prepares students for whatever path they decide to pursue afterward, whether that’s obtaining a technical career certificate or collecting credits to transfer. 

If you’re looking to save money, explore different fields, or simply find your footing in life, community college might just be the smartest choice you make.