2 Year VS 4 Year College, What to Choose?;-The campus culture and sorts of programs provided at two- and four-year institutions differ significantly from one another, except from the length of their degree programs. Some students just complete a two-year degree before starting their careers. Others begin at a two-year institution before transferring to a four-year university.
Different from those offered at a four-year university are the degrees offered at two-year community colleges or trade schools. Associate degrees in the liberal arts or in professions like marketing, business administration, or criminal justice are available from two-year institutions. For entry into some fields of work, you can also obtain shorter-term certificates or diplomas. Four-year institutions provide bachelor’s degrees that prepare students for entry-level jobs in a field of study by offering general education and program-specific courses.
There are strong arguments on both sides, and there are benefits and drawbacks to any educational path pupils choose to take.
When prospective students are determining what kind of education is best for them and their professional aspirations, a number of considerations come into play. These elements include things like students, classes, price, advancement, and benefits and drawbacks provided.
To help you choose which college is ideal for you, I’ve covered every aspect of these two institutions in this essay. Let’s look at it!
What exactly are two-year colleges?
The more advanced educational options that a four-year university has to offer can be reached through a two-year college. This option also gives students access to better employment options. Gaining an associate’s degree can help someone progress toward a better job or the bachelor’s degree they ultimately want. Most programs call for at least two years of full-time college study, but not more than four.
What is a Four Year College?
A 4-year university gives students access to a bigger setting where they can earn an approved degree. Because of their size and the capacity for graduate programs, universities differ from colleges. Some people might be able to pursue a professional degree through a medical or law school. Community colleges can help students get that process started, but they cannot help students finish it.
Differentiating a 2-year from a 4-year College
Two Year Colleges:
Students: A two-year college is an excellent option if you are interested in a job in a technical field of work or a particular trade.
A excellent suggestion is to start at a two-year college to establish your credentials before transferring to a four-year institution if your high school record isn’t really college-worthy.
Last but not least, choose a two-year college if you just cannot afford a four-year degree because any formal education in a profession is preferable to none at all.
Classes; You might be wondering, then, what are the general and specialized course requirements in a two-year institution.
Similar to a four-year institution, you have the option of enrolling in both general education courses (which, if this is your aim, can transfer to four-year programs) and specific fields of study.
The specialty, however, is always in a technical or administrative curriculum at two-year institutions.
Advancement; Community colleges and two-year institutions frequently collaborate closely with local vocational trade industries to provide students with practical internships and apprenticeships.
So, if you’ve decided to pursue a career in the automobile industry, you may benefit from gaining practical experience at a nearby repair facility.
Cost; The price of a two-year college is the last and, for many, the most significant factor.
Typically, two-year universities are the most affordable option for college. Typically, the cost of attending lessons is between $3,000 and $4,000.
Some students will finish their general education requirements in a community college where tuition is less expensive before transferring to a 4-year institution to finish their program of study.
Benefits of Two-Year Colleges:
Affordability;Community schools might be an affordable option to take some of your first or second year college requirement courses because they are often less expensive per credit hour than 4-year universities.
Location; After graduation, you might not be prepared to relocate far from your home. It might be in your best interest to enroll in classes for a year and commute from home if a community college is nearby.
Academic Regimen: Compared to 4-year universities, classes at community colleges typically proceed more slowly. If you had trouble in high school, this environment might be more beneficial to your performance in college than going to a 4-year institution.
Disadvantages of Two-Year Colleges:
Academic Regimen: In community college courses, you might not feel challenged if you are an extraordinary student. This could make you bored and not interested in your classes. But the majority of community colleges have relatively strict academic requirements.
Commuter Campuses: There aren’t many community colleges that offer dorms or apartments for on-campus living. You’ll be in charge of arranging housing and transportation to the university.
Choices; While many community colleges have extensive course offerings, they simply do not offer as many as you will find at a 4-year university.
What makes a two-year college special?
A community college or junior college is another name for a two-year institution. Several educational options that can result in an associate’s degree or certification are available at two-year colleges.
By attending a community college, you can finish your general education (GE). It aids in raising a student’s GPA so they can enroll in a four-year college. By obtaining a certificate or associate’s degree from the community college, you can also assist in assisting you in entering the workforce.
It is unique due to the following reasons:
- A regional higher-education institution offering certificates & two-ear degrees
- Cost less than 4 years
- Don’t consider past grades
- Open enrollment
- Serve part-time students and live-at-home students
- Known as comm. colleges or junior colleges
Courses at 2 Year Colleges:
- Automotive technology.
- Computer-aided drafting and design.
- Fire science.
- Construction technology.
- Office management.
- Culinary arts.
- Health information technology.
Four Year Colleges:
Students; The students who decide to attend a four-year school are looking for a solid education in a wide range of studies, including their major career discipline.
While a four-year degree is a minimum for many entry-level positions in almost all industries, a degree of this sort offers a wide array of options for what career a person usually decides upon.
Classes; Naturally, a four-year degree gives students greater time to enroll in more general and specialized programs.
Math, science, English, and other compulsory general education courses for a person’s major are frequently taken during the first two years of college. The latter two years are usually spent in the student’s chosen career field.
Advancement; In a four-year institution, a student can anticipate a wide range of learning opportunities and experiences outside of the classroom that may or may not enhance their academic credentials, such as student clubs, extracurricular activities, lectures, and seminars.
Additionally, you can further your education by participating in internships, cooperative education programs, and study abroad experiences.
Cost; The average cost of a four-year degree, despite its excellent value, is roughly $5, 351, and this doesn’t include room and board or books. Be prepared to reduce your budget.
A four-year college has the advantage that this investment can always be repaid with a better job and a better possibility of development.
According to the most recent study from the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, graduates from four-year institutions make, on average, $13,000 more annually than those from vocational institutions.
Benefits of Four Year Colleges:
Choices;If you can dream something up you can find a college or university that offers a course or major in it.
Collegiate Experience: Four-year universities provide a comprehensive college experience that is not possible on the campus of a community college, including dorm life, sporting events, recreational sports, Homecoming, and student life.
Academic Regimen; Many of the classes that 4-year institutions offer will allow you to broaden your perspective and examine concepts that you might not have otherwise thought about.
Scholarship Options: Scholarships are available from 4-year universities for incoming freshmen (you have not taken classes on a college campus). These scholarship chances will be lost if you begin at a community college.
Disadvantages Four Year College:
Affordability: 4-year colleges are usually more expensive than community colleges, but financial aid options can significantly reduce tuition costs.
Size; Students may feel that they are “lost in the shuffle” at many 4-year universities because their enrollment is typically significantly higher than at most community colleges. However, there are numerous 4-year colleges with student counts between 500 and 1,000. If student population is important to you, do some research.
What makes a Four year college special?
Students can obtain an undergraduate degree from a four-year institution in a variety of subject areas. Programs of study frequently adhere to an academic corpus that is very traditional and sometimes reduced to the “liberal arts.” There are majors available in the humanities, social sciences, physical sciences, and arts.
A university or a liberal arts college is referred to as a four-year college in general. Universities are multidisciplinary institutions with a focus on research. Both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree are available.
Four-year colleges provide you a varied and rich academic and social experience. It is unique due to the following reasons:
- An institution of higher learning that grants bachelor degrees
- Cost more than 2 years
- Known as colleges or universities
- Offer more programs
- Offer more opportunities to live on campus
- Dynamic campus life
- Large athletic program
- Work on campus
- Expert professors
Requirements for a four-year college:
Colleges frequently disregard the GPA on your transcript and only consider your grades in these essential subject areas when calculating your GPA for admissions reasons. In comparison to these essential courses, grades in physical education, music ensembles, and other electives are less helpful in determining your level of college readiness. Having a diverse range of interests and experiences is important to colleges, so taking electives isn’t always a bad idea, but they don’t give a strong indication of how well a candidate would handle challenging college courses.
A Bachelor of Arts or Science degree typically requires 120 semester units or credits to be earned. Specific courses in math, science, English, history, political science, general education, and upper-division courses in the chosen major are listed in the requirements, which are defined in depth. It’s possible for undergraduate students to want to finish all the requirements for more than one major (i.e., graduate with a double major). This could result in more Upper Division Course credit units being assigned to the designated majors.
For the baccalaureate degree, several institutions have a residency requirement that states that 30 units (or less) must be completed on the campus where the degree is awarded.
Pros and Cons of a Two Year vs. Four Year College
Pros and Cons of a Two-Year College
Pros
- A 2-year college is far less expensive to attend.
- You can get the training you need at community colleges to work in public service.
- At a 2-year college, you have the chance to raise your grade point average.
- You can stay close to home by attending community colleges.
- Your preferred sports are still open to you.
- At the community college level, there is a lot more latitude.
- At a community college, the level of your education is still very high.
- Compared to 4-year universities, 2-year colleges have smaller class sizes.
- At a small institution, juggling a job and studies is simpler.
- A two-year college offers financial aid.
Cons
A bachelor’s degree cannot be obtained from a 2-year college.
At a community college, you must make your major decision straight immediately.
Students have fewer networking possibilities at their disposal.
Pros and Cons of a Four-Year College
Pros
- Opportunities to Learn about a Wide Range of Subjects.
- Additional Prestigious Learning Opportunities.
- Meeting a Diverse Group of People.
- Learning Life Skills.
- There are more sports teams available at four-year universities.
- There are more course offerings at a 4-year university.
- You have a guaranteed level of expertise at a 4-year university.
Cons
- Very Expensive.
- Length of Time to Earn Degree.
- Earnings Not Commensurate to Student Loan Debt.
- Not Getting in the Field that You Earned Your Degree Job Upon Graduation.
Which Is Better, Community College or University?
Community college is superior to a university, really.
According to Venkatesh Swaminathan, founder and CEO of LifeLaunchr, an online college planning and coaching service, community college is a wonderful fit for many individuals and is frequently preferable than attending a four-year university.
It can assist students in gaining the essential academic skills, emotional development, and typically results in a career that is more satisfying and pays better, all while assisting them in paying off their debt.
So, if you have college applications to submit, consider community institutions rather than universities for the following four reasons:
- Community colleges typically have lower tuition costs.
- Flexibility: Classes may have more flexible timetables.
- Support: During the transition from high school, students frequently get greater assistance.
- Students have the opportunity to access specialized job markets and explore their interests.
For many people, community college advantages outweigh university advantages. The community college is a fantastic choice for anyone looking to begin or further their education because of its many benefits. Smaller classrooms, lower prices, and a simpler application process are some of these advantages:
Lower Costs at Community College
- You should consider the cost per year rather than the overall cost of obtaining a degree when comparing the costs of community college and a university. You may compare the two costs better by looking at the annual cost.
- You could pay five times as much per year to attend a university as opposed to a community institution. Depending on the colleges you examine, the discrepancies might even be more pronounced.
- A private four-year university’s average annual tuition is $37,650. Contrast this with the $5,668* tuition and fees for the 2020–2021 academic year at Mount Wachusett Community College.
- Additionally, community colleges don’t charge for accommodation or meals, which are overhead expenses. You’ll need to set aside money for books, technology, lab, health insurance, and certain program costs.
- For instance, some professional programs may have extra fees to cover the costs of any tools or devices used in the course.
Smaller Class Sizes at Community Colleges
- Classes at community colleges are frequently substantially smaller than those at universities, especially during the first two years.
- The lecture classes at many four-year universities are held in auditoriums to accommodate the large student attendance. Community colleges, on the other hand, have a lower student-to-teacher ratio.
- We have modest class sizes at Mount Wachusett Community College, with a student-to-teacher ratio of 12:1. In fact, The Mount has a cap of 20 pupils per class. This percentage is absent at colleges with larger class sizes.
Easier Application Process
- The majority of four-year schools and universities need you to take the SAT or ACT for admission, but community institutions don’t.
- In truth, there is no essay requirement for admission to The Mount. After being accepted into the community college, you will complete an assessment test. Your ability to enroll in specific course levels is determined by this assessment.
- You don’t need to worry about community college if your high school grades or test results weren’t stellar. You can still enroll in community college and concentrate on achieving top marks.
- You can transfer to a four-year university using your community college experience, and you may never have to take a standardized test because universities frequently don’t require SAT or ACT results for transfer students. For more precise information, check with the school you intend to transfer to.
- The low or nonexistent application cost is just another advantage of community college. There is no application fee for prospective students at The Mount. The quick online application can be finished in within 10 minutes.
- The typical application fee for four-year institutions is $44. But many colleges charge more. Consider the $105 application cost at the University of California, San Diego. 59 additional schools charge applicants between $75 and $85. Even if the school rejects you, these costs are not refundable. Additionally, you will need to submit SAT or ACT scores, high school transcripts, essays, recommendation letters, and more for each application. Hours can be spent on the procedure for each school you apply to.
It really depends on the field you choose to work in. The longer, more conventional university route will be your best choice if you’re searching for a career in a professional field like teaching or law. However, a two-year college can be a terrific option if you’re interested in a skill-based profession in a sector like audio engineering, video production, or broadcasting because it can help you enter the workforce more quickly and with potentially lower debt.
It all comes down to what your specific professional objectives are. To offer yourself the best chance of success, conduct your study before choosing any job route.
A 2-year college will, in my opinion, provide you a number of financial advantages over a 4-year university if you wish to save money while pursuing an advanced career option. You can easily save $10,000 or more in fees to reduce the amount of student debt you must manage after graduating, even if you graduate with an associate’s degree and transfer to a university to complete your bachelor’s degree.
Conclution
It’s crucial to decide whether to pursue further education at any level. It’s also a very individual decision. Even while it’s impossible to tell whether a 2-year college or 4-year institution is inherently superior for the average student, you can choose the one that’s best for you after carefully assessing your unique circumstances and ambitions.
There are benefits and drawbacks to both two- and four-year universities. Whether they want to attend a prestigious university or a nice trade school near to home, students should select the educational path that is best suited to their interests and needs.
