Educational Institute’s Value in Getting Careers – Junior College

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Everything is going up these days including the cost of gas, housing, food and unfortunately, education, which makes it nearly impossible for everyone to attend a four year college or university. Parents find themselves wondering how they will pay for their child’s college education. Federal grants and loans are even more difficult to secure than ever. What’s a parent to do?
Junior college, also known as community college, is one alternative for the student who doesn’t have the money to afford a full four year school. These educational institutions offer an Associate’s degree at much less cost than attending a four year school for those first two years. Immediately, an enormous amount of money is saved as well as most, if not all of the credits can be transferred to a four year university upon graduation.

The average cost of tuition and all necessary fees, books, etc. is approximately $2,000. That is nearly 1/3 of most public four year colleges or universities and about 1/10 of for private schools. For that reason alone it is very desirable to attend a junior college for the first two years.

Although the above is true which makes a junior college financially more desirable than a public or private four year school, there are areas that still are lacking in both types of education. Whether you choose a junior college or four year university, neither will provide assistance in placement after graduation. Sometimes we seem to forget that the reason students attend schools of higher learning is to secure a good job at a better pay scale. Considering that this type of education does not guarantee either one, should make you think about what should be the next step out of high school.

Another interesting observation regarding a junior college is that there isn’t any hands-on learning or apprentice/mentor opportunities. It’s been proven over the years that training in an apprentice situation is the best for almost every situation and for every type of student. Not only does the student learn firsthand, but they develop relationships with their mentor and his professional colleagues that could open doors for him/her upon graduation.

There is definite value in considering going to a junior college before one that is a four year school. But there are other alternatives that should be considered as well when you realize that schooling is just a vehicle toward a desired goal; getting a job in a chosen career. Most junior colleges do not give the student anything but textbook and classroom knowledge which does not directly aid them in securing good employment after graduation.