Schools, Application Process and Barriers

Community College/Associates Degree Opportunities

 

Jumping into a four-year degree right after the decision to pursue higher education isn’t for everyone. Community college offers the student an affordable solution to an associate’s degree and a cheaper path to completing the first half of a Bachelor’s degree.

 

Pros:

  • Cost of Tuition – One of the most understandable reasons that students attend community college is the financial motive. Almost every community college costs about a thousand dollars each semester as a full-time student. This gives students the opportunity to prepare mentally and financially for the demands of a university if they plan to transfer.
  • Cooperative Schedule – If you plan on working while attending school, and a large population of students do, community college is the best option. Junior colleges offer more night classes, online courses, and various accommodating schedule options. The workload is usually far lighter than a university which can be a negative in the long run, but is a positive when juggling a packed schedule.
  • Easier to Explore a Wide Variety of Majors – Instead of spending thousands on a major you don’t feel at a university, community college allows you broaden your horizons and check out different courses. Classes are so much cheaper, so you might have the opportunity to studies you wouldn’t have pursued.
  • Smaller Classes – Even though there are a lot of attractions to community college, surprisingly the classes are much smaller than a four-year school. In smaller classes, instructors have the chance to learn more about their students. Similarly, students have an increased opportunity to get the attention they need to be successful in the course.
  • Experienced Professors – Many accomplished professors teach part-time, and community colleges are just flexible with students as they are with instructors. Many experiences professors teach part-time at junior college, still allowing them time to pursue their career.

 

Cons:

  • Limited Program
  • Lighter Workload
  • Uninvolved Students
  • No Campus Life

 

https://www.scholarships.com/resources/college-prep/choosing-the-right-school/the-pros-and-cons-of-community-colleges/

 

Admissions:

Maricopa Community Colleges – OPEN ENROLLMENT (No Background Checks)

 

  1. High School Education/Equivalency GED
  2. Form of Identification (Government ID)
  3. Driver’s License
  4. Passport
  5. State ID/Resident Card
  6. Military ID
  7. Matricula Consular ID
  8. E-mail Address
  9. Access to the Internet (can be done through library at school, if not available at your home)
  10. Phone Number
  11. Home Address
  12. Social Security Number

 

Most community colleges require the completion of a standardized test, usually to be taken on campus

 

Maricopa County

  • Mesa Community College
  • Chandler-Gilbert Community College
  • Estrella Mountain Community College
  • Glendale Community College
  • Gateway Community College
  • Phoenix Community College
  • Paradise Valley Community College
  • Rio Salado Community College
  • Scottsdale Community College
  • South Mountain Community College

Pima County

  • Pima Community College

Coconino County

  • Coconino Community College