The college application process can be a daunting flurry of pressure— watching peers around you discover new passions and find their perfect college; however, community college is a viable option that can save thousands in tuition while giving you time to cultivate your avocations and explore vocations.
Misconceptions associating attending community college with academic inferiority are far from the truth—the benefits are immense as their open enrollment policies allow high school graduates with various backgrounds and interests to acquire valuable educational experiences.
This system reduces the competitive stressors of the college application process, encouraging students to pursue higher education. Among Northwood’s Class of 2023, 39% of students attended community college and took advantage of its benefits.
“When you look at the statistics of Northwood students, typically in every year, about a full third of our class goes to community college,” college and career specialist Kathi Smith said. “Even though kids are saying ‘Oh, community college, they’re going there,’ the numbers speak for themselves. Clearly, there are benefits to attending community college or a third of our class would not be going there.”
Community colleges also have lower tuition rates than most four year institutions, with students saving up to $20,000 annually with FAFSA. Since most colleges require students to take the same general education courses for the first two years of college, you can essentially take the same courses as students attending pricier universities for free.
With the low costs and plethora of courses offered, students can easily take advantage of these benefits to embark on a path of self-discovery, exploring career fields to find the one that fits their passions best at a pace that they set for themselves.
Additionally, the quality of education at community colleges is excellent. Within the past decade, the number of students at community colleges earning credentials steadily increased from 127,578 students in 2015-16 to 176,155 students last school year.
Some may worry about what’s next after attending a community college. One option is transferring to a four year university.
Locally, IVC has the highest transfer rate in the state of California, with 14.73% of students successfully transferring to schools such as UCI, CSUF and UCLA. Counselors help guide students through the admissions process, where students choose their intended major, check for admission requirements and submit their applications for review.
“My experience with community college has been one of memory making and just a lot of fun,” said Diego Moreno, Northwood Class of 2022 graduate and IVC alumni, who went on to CSUF following IVC. “You often hear a myth that there’s no community, no life. But there is. IVC had a vibrant school life. What makes it so memorable were the people I met along the way—both friends I still keep in contact with and the connections I made with professors.”
Students are discovering what defines a “successful” future as they enter high school, but it’s important to realize that it isn’t defined by attending the most prestigious school, but by finding what’s right for you, community college could be the perfect pathway to success.
