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Choosing to go to college is a big step in anyone's life. Part of the process of selecting a college that is right for you
is deciding whether you will apply to two-year colleges or four-year colleges. Two-year colleges, also known as community
colleges, are post-secondary schools whose focus is to provide academic, vocational and professional education. Two-year
colleges grant certificates, diplomas, and associate's degrees to their students, and if it is a state sponsored
community college, they come with a much cheaper price tag. On the other hand, four-year colleges and universities
have a main goal of granting academic degrees on a variety of subjects. Four-year colleges are the springboard into academia and
graduate school, but many schools also offer a mix of hands-on training as part of a four-year degree. Also, in some cases students
will attend both - a two-year college and a four-year college. While not everyone will choose to attend both, guaranteed
matriculation programs may allow disciplined students to save money and get into top California colleges, offering the best of both worlds.
The following article is a comparison of different aspects of two-year colleges versus four-year colleges.
Two-Year California Colleges
After high school, many graduates continue their education at two-year colleges.
Cheaper, quicker, and highly vocational, two-year schools offer students the chance to start their careers sooner
and with less (or no) debt. Students also often use two-year schools as a launching point to start earning
general education credits toward a bachelor's degree. Many community colleges have matriculation agreements
with four-year colleges - this can be a boon to the student who is able to get good grades in a 2-year college as this can
mean guaranteed admission to a four-year institution. At the end of two years, most students will have earned an associate's
degree and depending on their interests may move on to more career focused training or a degree at a four-year college
Course Material
Depending on their chosen degree program, two-year students typically either focus on taking general pre-requisite
courses that can transfer to a four-year institution or courses in their specific trade. Since community colleges are often
closely linked to local industries, students will find a wide array of courses that apply directly to the local job market.
Two-Year California College Costs
Since most two-year colleges are designed for local commuters, students are responsible for finding their own
housing and get to avoid the high costs of room and board. Two-year students get a huge break on yearly tuition as well,
approximately one-third of the cost for a year at a four-year public institution. Moreover, the educational quality
can often be very high. The reason why is because community college faculty jobs pay well and attract talented professors
with a desire to focus on teaching rather than research. This gives the student the best of both worlds - a high quality
education at a very low price. Three examples of such two-year colleges include
City College of San Francisco, West Los Angeles College,
and San Diego Community College.
Four-Year California Colleges
Though four-year schools require at least twice the amount of time as two-year schools and three times the tuition,
they offer students on- and off-campus learning opportunities and a well-rounded education. Depending on the school, some
four-year colleges require that students live on-campus for the first year, which may be more expensive than renting
and sharing an apartment or house nearby. Students can often save money by meeting friends and sharing a large house, apartment
or flat, cutting down on rent costs. In general, students will be moving to a new city or town to attend a four-year college
and these additional living expenses and moving expenses are a big part of the cost difference. If you are looking for
a four-year college and are concerned about costs, it may be best to look first to a college in commuting distance as
on-campus and near-campus housing is often at a premium price compared to housing that may be a few miles away.
Course Material
Students take course in several areas including English, History, Math and Sciences.
Although four-year students typically spend the first two years taking generalized courses then the
last two years taking courses in their major, students are free to take electives in any field of study. Some schools in the traditional
liberal arts tradition do not require the selection of a major up-front, while other colleges may require the student select
a specific area of focus at the outset of their education. In the first case, an undeclared major may allow the student to explore different
classes outside a specific area of study. This can be helpful for the student who is having trouble choosing a specific major. This
freedom, however, can have consequences later on. If the student fails to pick a major early enough they will delay graduation, which
can add extra years and extra cost. In the second case where the student is forced to pick a major, if they chose a major that isn't
a good fit, the student may be stuck in that they'll have to transfer out of that particular program into another - which may mean
re-applying to the alternate program which can also be disruptive. It's best to have a general idea of your chosen area and do the
research up-front to determine if the school you want to attend requires the student to declare a major at the outset.
Four-Year California College Costs
Although costs are often three times that of a two-year institution, employees with bachelor’s degrees do
earn a considerable amount more money per year than those without bachelor’s degrees. That can really add up over a lifetime. As a general
guideline, if you are interesting in higher education such as graduate school, a four-year degree is simply a must-have. However, if
you are interested in a four-year degree with job skills, California is home to many institutions that offer four-year programs
with additional "hands-on" coursework to prepare students for the workforce. Two examples include Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo
and Cal Poly, Pomona
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