Though community colleges are surrounded by a negative stigma that questions the quality of education the institutions offer students, Long Beach City College offers similar, if not the same, opportunities as four-year universities.
According to the official website for California Community Colleges, California has one of the most well-respected and reputable community college systems, with 115 campuses that offer associate’s degrees in over 175 fields.
Despite this fact the colleges are not getting recognized for all the work they do.
Community colleges are affordable and convenient schools that allow people to further their education, prepare for transfer, or gain valuable work skills.
Study.com, an organization that focuses on the quality of education in different communities, recognizes the misconceptions of community college and its students with the idea that students being forced to attend community colleges may not have the grades for a four-year university.
Though this may be true for some, for others, community college may be the best route to take.
Students may want to stay local and there is possibility of being in a smaller classroom.
Some students may simply decide to explore the same classes and fields offered at four-year universities at a fraction of the cost.
According to the official California State University Long Beach website, the average cost of tuition and fees totals out to around $6,460, while LBCC’s website reports that the average cost of tuition and fees is about $1,188.
Using a counselor recommended website like Assist.org, students can compare university courses to community college courses and see which ones will count for the same credit.
By enrolling in a community college, a student may spend less than half of the amount of tuition than a four-year university student will, while receiving some classes that will count at a four-year level.
This allows students to further their education at an affordable cost.
It is important for all community college students, including LBCC Vikings, to understand the stigma surrounding community college.
Rather than feel negative about it, students should become informed about establishing their personal educational path for their future.
All California middle schools and high schools should place more emphasis on community colleges being a higher education option for students.
Interested students can gain information through informative events like Viking Day presented by LBCC earlier this spring semester where high school students from the surrounding area were invited on campus for informative resource fair, which was then followed by a campus tour.
Everybody’s path is different, and with the right information, every student can not only become aware of their options but also become aware of both positive and negative aspects that all education institutes offer.