Attach No Stigma to Community Colleges

Students don’t have to look far to find a cost-effective, quality means to higher education. Lucky for most, there are colleges in cities and towns, both big and small, across the nation that provide an affordable and flexible path to a four-year degree.

Such institutions are called community colleges, and they’re probably one of the most misunderstood entities in higher education.

Recently, some have claimed that two-year colleges are “reeling,” adding that their “already low success rates” have only “gotten worse.“

Unfortunately, such an assessment doesn’t provide a fair or accurate picture of community colleges, as some of these institutions and the students who attend them do extraordinarily well.

As a community college graduate myself, I know first-hand many of the popular misconceptions about two-year colleges.

After I decided community college was the best option for me post high school, I heard all of the popular myths.

For instance, I was constantly told that two-year colleges aren’t for people who got good grades in high school.

While community colleges are in fact a good option for those students who need to improve their grades before moving on to a four-year university, many so-called “high achievers” attend two-year schools.

I should know. I don’t know what it takes to be considered a “high achiever,” but for the record, I maintained above a 4.0 grade-point average throughout my high school studies.

I was able to continue this record of success at Danville Area Community College (DACC), eventually gaining acceptance as a transfer student to several top schools, including Cornell University.

But my success story is only one of many.

Around 35,000 community college students transfer to “selective colleges and universities” each year. More importantly, this group thrives academically post-transfer.

Another myth is that classes at community colleges are an extension of high school coursework. Nothing could be further from the truth.

Personally, I credit my academic success post-DACC due to the fact that most of my coursework proved to be just as difficult as that after I transferred to DePauw University, a top ranked liberal arts college.

Most community colleges are fully accredited, meaning they are held to the very same standards as four-year colleges and universities.

I was also frequently told that my credits would not transfer to whatever school I ended up at, whether that might be a public or private university.

Again, this is another myth. While it is true that the burden is on students to do research as to which coursework will ultimately transfer, it is possible to transfer most or even all credits obtained at a two-year college.

Community colleges in many states have worked hard to arrange transfer agreements with public universities in their states, and even if such an arrangement does not exist, students can discover which courses they need by working with a university’s admissions office.

In a testament to my counselors at DACC, all of my coursework with the exception of a one-credit class counted towards my bachelor’s degree. I’ll add that DePauw had very specific requirements for graduation.

When there’s a will, there’s a way!

A final myth I constantly heard was that attending a community college would be detrimental to both my academic and professional career. Again, like all of the other myths, this turned out to be false.

Attending a two-year college was quite frankly the best decision I ever made. If I’m being honest, I was not ready to move away from home after high school.

Coming from a small, parochial school, I wanted to begin my college studies at an institution that offered smaller classes with a more personalized experience. Even though I knew I’d be taking general education requirements, I wanted to be more than a just a seat number on a class roster.

From mentoring to career guidance, I was able to get everything at DACC, and still to this day maintain contact with my former professors. From day one, these instructors had my best interests at heart, and they still do after more years than I care to mention!

Choosing the community college route also provided me the opportunity to graduate entirely debt free with my bachelor’s degree.

Two-year colleges save students tens of thousands of dollars in the long run, as courses at community colleges cost a fraction of those at four-year universities. This means less dependence on student loans, and the chance to obtain a bachelor’s degree at a fraction of the sticker price.

I’ll add that Steve Jobs, Tom Hanks, Ross Perot, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Aaron Rodgers, Halle Berry, George Lucas and Morgan Freeman all attended two-year colleges.

I don’t think life turned out too bad for any in this group!

Ultimately, there is not a “one size fits all” approach to higher education. Some students should attend four-year universities, others should enroll in vocational schools, and some shouldn’t attend college at all.

But for many students, community colleges offer an inexpensive, adaptable path to a four-year degree.

So the next time you meet a community college student or graduate, be sure to dispel any myths you might have heard about such schools or students.

Who knows? You could be in the presence of a future billionaire, governor, tech giant, Super Bowl champ or Academy Award winner.

Or in my case, a run-of-the-mill political operative.