For the majority of high school graduates looking to pursue further education, college is often the go-to option — but college is nothing more than an umbrella term, one that covers a variety of different majors, degrees, and institutions. Whether it be a community college, a university, or a combination of the two, each college path has its own advantages.
Some students may choose to attend a community college such as JJC (Joliet Junior College) directly after high school. The main advantage of community college is cost — students pay relatively cheap tuition — around 1,890 per semester according to educationdata.org, while also staying local to home. Students may still need to take out small loans to cover the tuition — but even then, those loans will be significantly less costly than loans for a university.
Some may attend a community college for two years to get their associate’s degree and then enter the workforce, while others may transfer to a university after the two years to attain a bachelor’s degree. Some community colleges encourage the ladder, by offering transfer programs for certain majors — usually those requiring additional, specialized education.
Some students may also choose to attend a four-year university directly after high school. While a costly option, some majors are dependent on the education provided by a university — such as medical fields. Unfortunately, it also may be the only option for students that don’t have access to a local community college.
‘The college experience’ is another substantial draw for universities, as students will attend a university simply to live away from home, among other reasons. Students will most likely need to take out a moderately hefty student loan to attend a university, if they can even afford to attend; fortunately, scholarships are widely available to help bright students pursue this type of education.
College is a choice for many students looking to further their education after high school. Two year colleges can save students money in the long run, while four year colleges provide students a specialized education at a cost. Regardless of what college one attends or which degree one shoots for, there’s a path for everyone, its solely up to the attending individual to find their own path.