Which to choose, 2 year school or 4 year school?
Some individuals are fortunate enough to know where they want to go to school, they already know what they want to major in, and they have the financial means to make it all happen. Others are not as fortunate, but still have the same opportunities available, they just have to work harder to achieve it and that is okay. When tackling this decision there are a few good books that I have found helpful. Debt Free Degree by Anthony O’neal, Ken Coleman’s Proximity Principal and an oldie but goodie, What Color is your Parachute? If you are an avid reader, then you may enjoy these books and find them very helpful. They can also be purchased as audio-books, which is my preference, allowing me to listen to them in my car or on my walks.
When trying to make this decision, often times the choice is clear and other times you must consider all of the pros and cons of each.
Here is our example, my oldest son was offered a small pole vaulting scholarship to a 4 year school that was a branch of a much larger university. Although the scholarship was small we were able to add a state scholarship of 5,000 a year to the amount but there was still a hefty balance. We made a list of pros and cons about the college and his options. We had saved a very small amount of cash in a 529 account, but it was only enough for one semester. We gave him the option of going to this particular school knowing that he would have to work to make up any difference or going to the local 2 year school and using the 529 for his junior year. He choose the 4 year university. So, my point is that is ok to have this conversation with your son or daughter and let them have a say in the choice made. I have found that if they have some “buy in” then they will work harder to reach the outcome.
Are you having a difficult time trying to decide between a 2 year community college or a 4 year college. When trying to decide there are a few key things to keep in mind. A few of these are cost, will my credits transfer and asking yourself, “do I know what I want to major in?” I know that in my own experience we discussed both options with our son, listed the pros and cons, visited the schools, and looked at all of our options
1. The cost– many 2 year schools, or community colleges, are extremely affordable. This is especially true if your state offers state lottery funds making the tuition close to zero if you attend a local community college. State scholarships can also be applied to 4 year in-state colleges, which can cut the tuition by about $5,000 a year. These scholarships are academic based. Encourage your son or daughter to ask their guidance counselor about state scholarships. In our state, South Carolina, a cumulative GPA at the end of the senior year of a 3.0 and a minimum of 24 on the ACT or a minimum of 1100 on the SAT gives a student $5,000 a year for college. The HOPE Scholarship gives a student $2,800 a year as long as the graduating senior has a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0. For example; my son received the life scholarship for having a GPA higher than a 3.0, and making a 24 on the ACT, this gave us $5,000 a year to put towards his college. The total cost of tuition for 15 hours at the local community college was less than $2,500 for the semester, so he is able to go for no charge to us. Actually, the cost of the 2 year school is only $1,600 leaving him with a $900.00 refund. We will be able to apply this $900.00 to the 4 year college that he will start in the fall.
2. Transferring Credits– you will want to make sure that the credits transfer from the 2 year college to the 4 year college of choice. There is a great website which helps to determine if a credit does transfer. We use SCtrac.org
3. Getting your basic courses– If you are not quite sure what you want to major in then going to a 2 year school first may be the best option. You are able to get your basic classes – English, science, history, foreign language and able to save money while you are considering your major. Just make sure that the credits transfer. You don’t want to spend time and money taking classes that do not transfer to a 4 year school. Check with your adviser, and it is also a good idea to check with the 4 year school and to verify again that the courses will transfer.
It will help to make a list of pros and cons about each of your options. In the college planner that I created there are some pages where you can list the likes and dislikes of each college that you visit.
So, what are some reasons to choose a 2 year school instead of a 4 year school. The main reasons are
- Your not sure what you want to major in, at a 2 year school you can begin with just your basics.
- A 2 year local community college will allow to live at home, work and save some money to pursue the 4 year college or trade school later.
- In some states, you can attend community colleges for very little tuition cost.
What has been helpful for you when deciding between a 2 year and a 4 year school?
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