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Not very long ago, community college had a reputation for being a compromise. It was the type of place you’d go ONLY if you couldn’t get accepted into—or couldn’t afford—a four-year school. These days, the tide is turning, and people are beginning to see community colleges for what they are: amazing places to springboard an education at a fraction of the cost. Institutions like Raritan Valley Community College are really changing the game, with competitive programs, top-notch professors, small class sizes, and an easy transfer process. Read on for six reasons why community college is awesome!

1. Cost Savings

The most obvious benefit of community college is cost savings. For 2016-2017, tuition at RVCC is $5,214. Compare that to the average tuition for NJ public and private 4-year colleges—which is $13,464 and $36,515 respectfully. Add room and board on top of that, and community college is a much more affordable option. Ka-ching!

2. Small Classes

State schools are known for their giant lecture halls that can fit up to a couple hundred students. The average class size at RVCC, meanwhile, is just 19 students. This offers a more intimate setting for learning as well as more one-on-one time with professors. And of all the community colleges in New Jersey, RVCC happens to have some of the most committed and talented professors around. (Even though we’re biased.)

3. The Opportunity for Re-invention

Community college is the perfect place to get a fresh start, boost your GPA, and give that reach school a reason to give you a second look. Many students find the atmosphere at RVCC and other community colleges to be a lot more motivating than high school. Others end up using their 2 year degrees in a field that really speaks to them.

4. Flexible Schedule

If you need to work while attending school, community college is a great option. In fact, more than 80% of community college students work part-time or full-time jobs while attending school. Evening and weekend classes make it easier to fit school into your work schedule and vice versa, while online courses let you study anytime, anywhere. RVCC offers ultimate convenience with more than 150 online courses each semester!

5. Time to Explore

Maybe you don’t know what you want to major in right away. And that’s OK! Community college is a great place to get all your core classes out of the way while figuring out your interests. Transferring from community college to a 4-year school has never been easier. RVCC has close to 90 transfer agreements with other colleges and universities, including Rutgers University and a newly established partnership with the University of the West of England (UWE), Bristol—which makes the community college transfer process all the more seamless.

6. Celebrity Legacy

Our final reason why community college is awesome? It could make you a millionaire! Countless celebrities and entrepreneurs got their start at community college, including Steve Jobs, Tom Hanks, Morgan Freeman, George Lucas and Halle Berry. Maybe you’ll be next!

Need another reason to consider community college and RVCC? We were just ranked the #1 community college in NJ by bestcolleges.com. To learn more about RVCC, attend our Open House or an upcoming Information Session. We hope to see you soon!