1. Cost

Between community colleges and universities the cost of each is very different. A community college cost about $3,260 per year, where an in state student at a public university can cost about $9,000. That is only for public universities, and in state students. For private colleges the average cost for the 2016-2017 year was a total of $33,480. For 14 hour credits and in state students, at Mizzou it will cost a total of $25,513. For full time on campus at Jefferson Community College it will cost a total of $11,196.

2. Degrees and Programs

Community colleges and universities have many differences in programs and degrees offered. Community colleges are often referred as ‘2 year colleges’ for usually you can get your associate’s degree in two years depending on if you go full or part time. These ‘2 year colleges’ can help you find a job that requires a 2 year degree or to prepare for transferring to a university. Community colleges also offer diploma programs and short-term certificates in specific careers. Universities mostly offer bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees. They offer diverse programs that offer a larger range of options.

3. Admission Requirements

Community colleges usually have less admission requirements than University’s do. Actually, most community colleges have open admission policies, which means anyone who graduated high school can join if they apply. Depending on which community college and what your going for, it can range on the admission requirements. Universities usually have pickier admission requirements for their college. This means you better be ready to apply more than just an application. Many Universities need you to take certain classes in high school and receive a certain score on the SAT or ACT.

4.        Class Sizes

Class sizes can range at a University, from small to huge. In community colleges most classes are quite small. You are not having to deal with huge classes that they usually have in universities. Smaller classes can change the quality of the teaching, with more one on one and more engaging work. In universities, sometimes, there can be more than 150 students in a class. Which means less one on one time and less engaging work.

5.       Transferring Credits

Most people go to a community college to receive their associate degree and get most of their general education credits.  These general credits are helpful in transferring to a university. Community colleges across the United States usually make sure that the general credits are able to transfer to Universities. This makes it even easier to be ready for going to a University. Still you want to make sure that your general credits transfer.