“Really Not What You Think:
Myths About
Community Colleges”
February 7, 2008
The College Board
Southern Regional Forum
The Westin Resort
Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
MYTHS ABOUT COMMUNITY COLLEGES
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Students only attend community college because they can’t get in to a fouryear college.
A degree from a community college is not as good as a university degree.
Community colleges are inexpensive, so the education is not high quality.
Community college credits do not transfer to four-year universities.
Community colleges have low academic standards.
Community colleges are for students who want a vo-tech career.
Nobody who is anybody goes to community college.
Community college is just high school with ashtrays.
Community college is for older students and students who work full-time.
Financial aid is not available at a community college.
Transferring from community college to a four-year college is too tough.
Students can’t survive a four-year college after attending a community college.
Community college students drop out.
Community colleges are all the same.
Community colleges are glorified high schools.
Community colleges offer easy courses.
Community college does not offer the same college experiences as a four-year
college.
Community college professors are not as qualified as four-year college
professors.*
Community colleges do not provide an active student experience.*
It is not as prestigious to attend a community college as it is to attend a fouryear college or university.*
* Myths added from comments made by participants in this session of the 2008 College
Board Southern Regional Forum on 02/07/08.
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TYPES OF COMMUNITY COLLEGES
COMMUNITY COLLEGES, JUNIOR COLLEGES,
TECHNICAL COLLEGES AND TWO-YEAR COLLEGES
These four types of colleges are educational institutions that provide postsecondary education, which offer programs that are less than four years in
length, (typically two years or less).
These fours types of colleges:
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Award Associate of Arts (A.A.) Degrees
Award Associate of Science (A.S.) Degrees
Award Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) Degrees
Offer Certificates
Offer Diplomas
Offer Licenses
Offer core requirements leading to a four-year college/university degree
Provide solid foundation for transferring to four-year colleges and
universities
Offer Career and Joint Technical Programs that prepares students for
employment after one and/or two years of college
Are commuter and residential college campuses
Have affordable tuition costs
Are private colleges
Are public colleges
COMMUNITY COLLEGES
These are public, two-year colleges. They mostly serve people from nearby
communities and offer academic courses, technical courses, and continuing
education courses. Public institutions are supported by state and local
revenues.
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JUNIOR COLLEGES
These are generally two-year colleges that are private institutions. Some
junior colleges are residential and are attended by students who come from
others parts of the county.
TECHNICAL COLLEGES
These are generally colleges that have a special emphasis on education and
training in technical fields. However, although some technical colleges offer
academic courses and programs, not all technical colleges offer two-year
programs that lead to an associate of arts or science degrees. Technical
colleges may be private or public. Junior colleges and community colleges
that offer many technical courses are often called “technical colleges.”
TWO-YEAR COLLEGES
Community colleges, technical colleges and junior colleges are referred to
and sometimes called two-year colleges.
FACTS ABOUT COMMUNITY COLLEGES
- More than 1,600 community colleges in the US
- More than 11 million students are enrolled in community
colleges in the US
- Millions of first-time freshmen begin their higher education
in a community college
- 44% of all undergraduates in the US attend a community college
- 58% Women + 42% Men = population of community colleges
- $1,518 is the average annual tuition at community colleges
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- 63% of students attend Part-Time
- 37% of students attend Full-Time
- The average expected lifetime earnings for a graduate with an
associate’s degree is over $1 million; approximately $250.00 more than
a high graduate
CHOOSING A COMMUNITY COLLEGE
LOCATION CONSIDERATIONS
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Close to home (and family)
- Residential campus
- Commuter campus
Far from home (and family)
- Residential campus
- Commuter campus
Warm climate
Cold climate
Large campus based on student population
- Few to several thousand students
Small campus based on student population
- Few hundred to a thousand students
Popular and well-known college
Not so well-known college
Physically large campus area setting
- Located on several acres
- Multiple campuses within college
Physically small campus area setting
- Located on a few acres
- Single campus
Known for strong academic excellence in programming
Known for sports and other extra-curriculum programming
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FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS
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Private college
- High or expensive tuition costs
Public college
- Low or inexpensive tuition costs
Tuition paid by scholarships offered from college
- Academic
- Sports
- Fine Arts
- Other
Tuition paid by student and/or his/her parents (family)
- Working while attending college to pay tuition
- Parents (family) paying all tuition
Tuition paid by outside scholarship resources based on
- Academics
- Sports
- Fine Arts
- Employer
- Other
MAJOR / PROGRAM OF STUDY CONSIDERATIONS
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College offers chosen major
- College offers specific major
- College specializes in major
- Internships offered in chosen major
- Employment placement provided after graduation
- Feeder community college for transfer to four-year college
preference
Alternative major will have to be selected
- College offers a similar major to chosen major
TRANSFERABILITY OF CREDITS TO FOUR-YEAR
COLLEGES / UNIVERSITIES
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College has articulation agreements with four-year colleges
College offers transfer courses and non-transfer courses
- Credit courses (Academic courses)
- Non-credit courses (Institutional and CEU courses)
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ADVANTAGES OF ATTENDING COMMUNITY COLLEGES
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Affordable with tuition being considerably less than most four-year
colleges and universities
Extra attention given to students by instructors
Being able to work and attend classes around work schedule
Saving money by living at home while attending classes at a local
community college
Tutorial sessions available to assist students
Career guidance counseling available
Prepares students for transferring to four-year colleges and universities
Enrichment courses (for fun and pleasure) offered through the
continuing education program
Learning support courses prepares students for required academic
courses
Child care may be available
Morning, afternoon, evening and weekend classes
Co-op or customized training classes with local businesses and the
local community college
“Open door” or “open enrollment” policy allows many students to begin
the goal towards future college education by requiring only a high
school diploma or GED
Tuition is substantially lower than most four-year institutions
Community colleges have little or no time limits on when classes must
be taken or a degree must be earned
Four-year colleges often give priority to students transferring from
community colleges, citing their demonstrated preparedness for junior
and senior college-level work
Community college professors are solely dedicated to teaching
Small class sizes enhances learning opportunities and allows
professors to know students by name
Several community colleges have tremendously successful athletic
programs
Students transferring from community colleges to four-year
college/universities perform as well or better academically than
students that started their freshmen courses at the same four-year
institutions
Successful leaders in business, education, entertainment, government,
politics, sports, and the arts are community college graduates; and so
can any student become another success story by attending and
graduating from a community college.
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RESOURCES, REFERENCES & CREDITS
American Association of Community Colleges
National Center for Higher Education
One Dupont Circle NW, Suite 410
Washington, DC 20036-1176
ERIC Clearinghouse for Community Colleges
UCLS, 3051 Moore Hall
405 Hilgard Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90024-1521
“How To Choose a Community College” by Jan Ignash
http://www.kidsource.com/kidsource/content3/community.college.k12.3.html
“In Praise of the Community College” by Caroline Reeder
http://www.back2college.com/communitycollege.htm
“Preparing Your Child For College: 2000 Edition
http://www.ed.gov/pubs/Prepare/pt1.html
“Community College”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CommunityCollege
“Five Myths about Community Colleges” by Jennifer LeClaire
http://www.fastweb.com/printer/resources/articles/index/110262
“The Biggest Myths About Community College” by Vonda Sines
http://www.associatedcontent.com/pop_print.shtml?content_type=article&content_type_id
“Community College: Myth vs. Reality”
http://www.collegeboard.com/student/csearch/where-to-start/150494.html?print=true
“Advantages of Community Colleges”
http://www.collegeinfo.com/advantages-of-community-colleges
“Survey Captures Educational Experiences of community College Students”
http://www.edb.utexas.edu/education/news/2005/CCSSE05.php
“College Bound: Community Colleges”
http://www.thehighschoolgraduate.com/editorial/UScc.htm
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