Estimated Cost by Type of School
 |
| Location,
tuition, size, majors—with so many factors to consider,
choosing a college can be daunting. But few can overlook
the differences between two- and four-year schools, and
between public and private schools. |
|
|
Two-year colleges
|
| Most
two-year
or community colleges
serve people from nearby communities
and offer academic courses, technical courses, and continuing
education courses. Academic programs are comparable to
the first two years of a four-year college or university,
and lead to an associate of arts (A.A.), associate of
science (A.S.), or associate of applied science (A.A.S.)
degree. Degree credits are often transferable to four-year
colleges. |
| Many
also offer non-degree license or certificate programs,
for example, for nurses, medical laboratory technicians,
and computer technicians. Those offering many technical
courses are often called technical
colleges. |
| While
most two-year colleges are publicly funded, junior
colleges are more likely to
be privately funded, and to have on-campus housing and
more students from outside the local community.
|
|
Four-year colleges and universities
|
| At
a four-year college,
you earn a bachelor of arts (B.A.) or bachelor of science
(B.S.) degree after four or more years of more extensive
study within a discipline. Most draw both in-state and
out-of-state students, and offer on-campus housing and
dining programs. |
| Many
four-year schools are particularly well regarded for certain
arts and sciences degree programs. Doing well in such
a program in turn can make you a more attractive candidate
for employment or for a university's advanced degree program.
|
|
A university
complements its four-year
programs with one or more programs of graduate study
and one or more professional schools. In turn, its may
confer bachelor's as well as graduate, master's, and
Ph.D. degrees. Many also confer professional degrees,
for example, in law or medicine.
|
|
Public or private?
|
| Schools
can be either public or private, but most two-year colleges
are public institutions. In most cases, public schools
are funded and managed by the state government. |
| Private
schools, on the other hand, are independent entities that
set their own admissions and financial aid guidelines.
Many private colleges and universities have historical
or financial ties to religious denominations or significant
private donors. |
| |
|
Average
Costs by School Type
|
| Typically,
public schools cost less than private schools, and two-year
colleges cost less than four-year schools. |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
 |
4-year |
2-year |
4-year |
2-year |
4-year |
2-year |
4-year |
2-year |
| Public |
$8,655 |
$4,862 |
$3,506 |
$1,359 |
$2,651 |
$1,603 |
$2,498 |
$1,900 |
| Private |
$21,907 |
$14,690 |
$15,531 |
$8,961 |
$3,387 |
$2,768 |
$2,989 |
$2,962 |
Source: National Center for Education
Statistics Digest of Education Statistics, 2001
|
|
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For
information or additional news, contact the editor at ygaa@pacbell.net
|
