Save Money by Going to Community College

Is Going the Community College Route a Savvy Idea?

September 28, 2010

There is a new trend surfacing as a result of the broken economy — kids going off to community college for the first year or two, then finishing up their bachelor's at a four-year college. This saves the cash-strapped parents and kids money and leaves the kid with less debt dragging them down. I've known people who have transferred from community colleges to top-tier schools and ended up with good jobs to boot. Do you think this is a savvy idea?

Source: Thinkstock

10 Comments

socalbeachgal 2 years

teperry3, good luck with your transfer to an UC. Apply even if you have one class left; a friend did that last year and he got into UCSB pending that he completed the class which he did over the summer.

HollyJRockNRoll 2 years

This what I did and I am glad. So many people I know are in debt because of college and its just ridiculous. Frankly, there is very little different between a two year school and four year. There are always kids who clearly want to be there and kids who don't. There are some really great teachers and some not so great teachers. It also gives you a chance to explore what you want to do a bit more, for less of an expense.

teperry3 2 years

As a current community college student, I agree with you socalbeachgal.. it is taking longer due to budget cuts to complete the necessary courses to transfer. I have changed my major while in community college so it will take me 3.5 years to complete. I should have been done this semester but due to the cuts, not all of the classes I needed were offered for me to take this semester. This also causes a problem when I do transfer since councilors tell me that UC's and CSU's want all of your required classes completed the October before you transfer.. since the LAST required class I needed is not offered it could possible hold off my transfer another semester.

socalbeachgal 2 years

This has been going on for years and in the past I think it was a good strategy. Now, community colleges are so crowded that it is tough to get your classes and finish in 2 years. If there is no other option, yes it is good but going to a four year college is better.

ampersand 2 years

Bluebellknoll, I agree with you. My parents did this and both of them graduated from college debt free. I am doing it now and when I do enter college I will be a sophomore because of all of the community classes I took while in high school. Very good article. Thanks for the post. =)

ampersand 2 years

bluebellknoll 2 years

New trend? I thought lots of people had been doing this for years.

onlysourcherry 2 years

I went to a very expensive college and one of my housemates went to community college for her first year. She probably saved about $38,000 by doing that. Not a bad choice, if you can swing it. That said, the college experience of living on campus etc was invaluable to me... but I might have felt differently if I was footing the bill!

onlysourcherry 2 years

imLissy 2 years

The people I've known who transferred had to talk half their classes over again. Colleges want to squeeze as much money out of you as possible, so they make up reasons why you can't transfer such and such credit. You probably still save money, but you lose a lot of time.

Link Love

10 Comments