Community College: Cheap and Effective

One of the best inventions concieved in Illinois is not just corrupt politics (this thing is fucking golden), it is a state wide transfer credit articulation program. Other states may have this, I don't know, I live under the relative rock of academia. All the community colleges in the state and the public 4 year universities participate. There are over 30 private schools and colleges that participate in the program as well.

Well what is it? The program provides a standardized general education program at all the participating schools. The program directors hold meetings with college and university representatives to determine what classes at each of these schools meet the same basic requirments for general education. This makes it much easier to transfer in and out of colleges for various reasons.

Well, the real beauty here is you can do half your degree at the Community College, and transfer all that guarnteed course credit to a four year university. Lets look at some numbers to see the cost savings. These will shock the shit out of you if you are a casual reader, they make me feel bad inside.

Names and locations will not be given to protect my possible career prospects and, all of these colleges participate in the program.

Local Community College: Tuition and Fees for one credit hour $115.
Big Honking Public 4 year: Tuition and Fees for one crefit hour $911.
Small "Silver Spoon" private: Tuition and Fees for one credit hour $1,170.

What the fuck accounts for the price difference when these colleges have all agreed that what they are offering for classes is the same no matter where the classes are taken. Granted, the student life experience will be different, but is it worth a 9 or 10 to one price difference? I don't fucking think so.

So what does this cost you to take: rocks for jocks, basic composition, college algebra, and fringe rantings of a loon (this is usually your politics or non-western history professors).

Local Community College: $5,175.00
Big Honking Public 4 year: $40,995.00
Small "Silver Spoon" private: $52,650.00

Remember, these numbers do not take into account costs for a place to live, your shitty college car, food, textbooks you get fucked on, and lets face it... booze to numb your ass to the depression on the weekends (if you need some advice, low quality fortified wine i.e. bum-wine is the best value, tastes like cough syrup, kicks like a mule).

Take my advice, start with community college, you will save so much money. But just remember, even if you get a worthless degree on the cheap, it is still a worthless degree.