Benefits of Community College

I have always thought community colleges could and do have a profound effect on a person’s educational journey. I know I benefitted from them, and I fully intend to encourage my own children to do so as well. This big benefit I am talking about though, starts while you are still in high school; instead of wasting a summer doing nothing, take some community courses. I believe you can start taking them at the age of 15.

“Earning College Credits in High School Speeds Degree Completion”

“About 23 percent of students who receive college credit while still enrolled in high school obtain an associate degree within two years, making them far more likely to do so than peers who do not earn college credit in high school, a new study shows.”

“Those students attend what are called Early College high schools, which team up with colleges and universities to allow the students to receive up to two years of college credit that can go toward an associate degree. By comparison, only 2 percent of students at high schools without Early College programs went on to receive an associate degree within two years. The study, conducted by the American Institutes for Research, reports that 81 percent of the Early College students enrolled in college, compared to only 72 percent of students who attended other high schools.”

Read the whole thing here: http://www.insidehighered.com/quicktakes/2014/01/16/earning-college-credits-high-school-speeds-degree-completion

I think a lot of us know this, but many of us do not use this benefit the way it could be used. Yes, we know there is some crises in various community college systems, but the benefit is still there (including cost).

What are your thoughts?

Dr Flavius A B Akerele III

The ETeam