Disadvantages of Community Colleges

 

While there are many distinct advantages that can be associated with attending a community college, there are some disadvantages that I would be remiss not to mention. We all want to look at the positives and the good in my opinion about community college, at least as a springboard for a university education, far more than the bad. However, if you're considering community college as an option, whether for an associate's degree or plan to go to the university level upon completion, you need to look at the bigger picture, not just sunshine and flowers.

The first thing you should be aware of, and this applies primarily to students who plan to transfer, is that you should consult with the college you plan to attend next to make sure the courses you are taking are at the community college level. Consistent with the core requirements of the University. In many cases they are similar enough to be considered compatible but there are exceptions and it's better to find out sooner rather than later. If you plan to attend a university located near a community college, you should check to see if they have some type of articulation agreement that would allow associate degree graduates to transfer seamlessly.

Many states are taking action and passing laws that require certain state colleges to accept community college credits as transfer credits in an effort to keep qualified workers in the state. Some universities are even offering distance learning programs for associate degree undergraduates to allow students who live farther from campus access to educational opportunities that would have been denied them in the past. Of course, if you live in one of these states, a prior disadvantage may now work in your favor.

Many community colleges do not offer housing, and most of those that do are still primarily commuter campuses rather than residential campuses. Instead of spending funds on housing, these colleges reserve their expenses to support academic activities. Community colleges in rural areas are more likely than larger cities to offer on-campus housing. The lack of on-campus housing makes participating in sports and other activities a little more difficult than at colleges that are primarily residential in nature.

If you decide to make a community college your last stop in your personal educational experience, you'll be denying yourself the potential to earn a lot over your lifetime. This is why you should seriously consider the benefits of transferring to a university for your educational goals.

My biggest complaint with community colleges compared to larger universities is that there is such a limited opportunity to take certain classes compared to those at the university level. You may find that you must sequence your courses at the community college level or you risk needing an extra semester or year to complete the requirements for your associate degree. Universities offer greater flexibility, especially in the lower level courses that are required for all to graduate.

My other main complaint with community colleges is that they often have much smaller libraries than universities. This severely limits students' ability to conduct extensive research except in rare cases. Universities have deeper pockets than typical community colleges. Because of this they will have larger libraries and a lot more bells and whistles than the average community college. Hopefully we will see this change over time as well. Despite the disadvantages that may be associated with a community college education, I feel that they are far outweighed by the benefits that a community college learning environment provides.