By Beth Doyle
bdoyle@wickedlocal.com

Community colleges are a gateway of opportunity for students who take advantage of their flexibility, lower costs, convenient locations and variety of courses.

Nearly half of all undergraduates attend community college, according to the American Association of Community Colleges, and one of the biggest reasons is cost. The average yearly tuition and fees at public two-year colleges totaled $3,347 in 2014-15, according to the College Board. The average yearly tuition and fees at public four-year colleges and universities for in-state students totaled $9,139 while out-of-state schools’ average came in at $22,958.

But there are other benefits, too.

Flexibility

Community colleges are mostly two-year institutions that award certificates, technical credentials, diplomas and associate’s degrees, and they are a vital pathway to higher education for a diverse community of learners.

“We are an incredible option for local students,” said Mary Burke, the dean of Quincy College’s Plymouth campus and the associate vice president for academic and administrative affairs. “We offer flexible schedules, affordable tuition and a wide array of pathways to the workforce or a baccalaureate program.”

Flexible scheduling includes typical 15-week semesters in the fall and spring; tandem courses, which are two seven-week courses running back-to-back in one semester; online courses; and hybrid courses.

Affordability

Affordability is oftentimes the most talked-about benefit of attending a community college.

“Our core attribute is keeping a college education affordable,” Taggart Boyle, the associate vice president of communications and marketing for Quincy College, said.

“A business class at Quincy College costs $630. At a state university, it costs over $1,000. The same class at BU costs $6,000. We are one-third to one-half the price of a state university. We consider ourselves to be competing with everybody. We’d like to be the Harvard of two-year schools,” he said.

Other benefits

Not all professions require a four-year degree, and community colleges are the answer for students who can benefit from their short-term nature. Courses in demand at Quincy College include the Associate Degree in Nursing program, from which students can enter the workforce or transfer to earn their Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Burke said. Other popular programs include business, criminal justice, early childhood education, computer science, game development, health care administration, physical therapist assistant, certified nursing assistant, medical laboratory technician and phlebotomy.

Not all professions require a four-year degree, and community colleges are the answer for students who can benefit from their short-term nature. Courses in demand at Quincy College include the Associate Degree in Nursing program, from which students can enter the workforce or transfer to earn their Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Burke said. Other popular programs include business, criminal justice, early childhood education, computer science, game development, health care administration, physical therapist assistant, certified nursing assistant, medical laboratory technician, and phlebotomy.

A diverse student body is another bonus of the community college campus. And Quincy College boasts students aging from 15 to 81, according to Boyle.

“We cater to a lot of different needs,” he said.

The diverse student body also contributes to a friendly environment.

“This is a warm and nurturing place,” Dr. Kenneth Texeira, who is a professor at Quincy College, said. “Students feel at home here.”

Melissa Erickson, More Content Now, contributed to this article.