How to Compare Community College and University Costs

The rising cost of college has become a huge concern for many families as their children near the end of high school. How do you find the college that is going to be the best for your child but also be affordable for the family? Compare the costs of community colleges and universities with the following steps.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

1. Sit down with your teen and discuss what major she would like to study and her desires for college. Deal with the big issues such as staying close to home or moving away, living at home or living on campus.
2. Talk with your teen's guidance counselor at school and find out his opinion on where your teen should go to school and what your child is academically ready for.
3. Decide on a few schools and start researching with the help of your teen, as you want her involved in every aspect of the process.
4. Visit the websites of the preferred schools for tuition and schooling costs. Draw a line down the center of a piece of paper and write the costs of each school on either side. This way, you can clearly see the difference in price.
5. Make sure to compare them accurately. Some schools may include something in their costs that another school doesn't such as books, student activity fees and registration fees.
6. Take a tour of the schools you are considering and see where the money is going. During this tour, look at living accommodations. Do freshmen have to live in the dorms, are there apartments nearby that are inexpensive and are there student aid programs available to pay for some of these living expenses? Are utilities covered in rent?
7. Consider encouraging your child to attend a community college for the first two years to take all her prerequisites, and then transfer to a university to finish her major.
8. Determine if your family or teen is eligible for any scholarships, work study opportunities or other programs that can help defer the cost of attending. This may open your mind to more costly schools without paying the extra costs. Include the dollar value of these potential savings in your list comparing prices.

Tips & Warnings

• Community college makes a nice transition from high school to college. It gives your child the feel of college life and the comfort of staying home for two more years.
• Work-study is a great way to earn extra money. Your child could possibly work in her desired field as she learns and develops a great work ethic.
• Don't jump into the decision too quickly; take all of your teen's junior and senior years of high school to prepare for this.

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