I would say if you’re REALLY undecided or can’t afford a four year university, opt for CC, but in doing so, look at the curriculum of the department you’re interested in. Some are extensive with courses that are relative to your major while some offer five or six classes in your major that only three or so transfer over.

Also, the quality in a CC varies greatly. Some CCs are amazing and actually prepares students that succeed at four year universities while some just flounder. You really have to be driven to get the most out of a CC, similar to most traditional universities.

The money saved at CC is endearing, but also remember the QUALITY. You can save all the money you want, but a poor education, like anywhere, is a wasted education. Relatively cheap CC tuition paired with a quality department (hopefully your major) with an efficient administration is truly a bang for your buck.

End rant.

I think CC is also good for continuing education for adults. I now have my master’s degree but enjoy taking courses at a CC in my spare time.

Ignore the stigma and go for your dreams whatever they may be. It’s great that you’re in school and heading in the right direction.

Are there benefits to going to a 4 year institution right off the bat? Certainly, depending on what you hope to get out of it. If the focus is to have yourself (or your kids) get the requisite knowledge and degree to get out there and work, then where you go and how you go isn’t all that important. If, however, you are looking for other benefits, such as sending your kids to a school sponsored by or closely affiliated with your church, or you are an athlete being courted by a school, then that’s a different story.

Still, it’s entirely possible to do the prerequisite work, get the AA, and then finish up the major at the school of your or your parents choice.

Remember, no one cares where you started your degree, just where you finished it… and frankly, after a couple of years of practical experience in the work force, most employers aren’t going to care all that much about where you finished your degree, either, just that you did.

The CC system was the only way for me to re-enter college after having to drop out of a university because I couldn’t afford it.

I returned to college as an older adult who knew that for things to get better I needed to invest in education.

I would also say that there is a difference between day CC students and evening folks. After taking a day of crap at the Salt Mine you aren’t going to mess around in your evening classes. It is more focused.

Honestly, I only had one stinker class out of 60 credits.

From a frugal standpoint (if you have a good community college system) you save a bunch of money, many public CCs now have online classes so that certainly saves on gas and parking and you get an accessibility ramp into higher eduction.

I wish we could snuff this on-going elitist distinction between community college and 4 year college and universities.

But while at a cc join their Honor Society, if you qualify. Phi Theta Kappa offers members a network of colleges that provide great transfer scholarships totaling over $36million to 4 year institutions (wish I heard about them though when I was attending).

You ARE missing out on a social aspect. But it gets boring. Trust me, it takes all of one semester to get used to it. It isn’t worth even paying IN-STATE tuition. Poor souls that went out of state. . .

Pay the money for the classes you care about, because they probably are a higher quality at a four year. But don’t waste the time or money sitting in a dorm to take Composition 1 and History of the Western World. Beer is cheap.

I paid my CC years out of what I was making at a day care center, and my wage started at $3.50/hr….

Yes, transfer to a 4-year school if you need or want a Bachelor’s degree. If you read the fine print when you started CC (aka went to an accredited CC with good xfer policies) you should not have a problem transferring your credits. I got my BS from Seattle Pacific Univ, and they treated my AA as my first two years. This was not uncommon - the state CC have an agreement with most four-year schools in this state to accept AAs in that fashion.

Trust me, you will have plenty of years to pay rent after college - while you save for a down payment.

the CC in my town was very small, but had good instructors. the CC didn’t have a lot of diversity, but treated all students fairly.

i think the thing i got out of CC was just an opportunity to think on a higher plane than HS offered.(small town, small town HS, small town mindset) i got classes out of the way that cost significantly more at uni than at CC.