The costs of going to a major university for higher education can be outrageous. Community colleges, like Southeast Community College in Lincoln, NE, help to greatly offset those costs and give students more time to decide which direction they truly want to take with their studies.

Studies have shown that the average cost of attending a traditional four-year university can exceed $32,000 for a single year. By comparison, tuitions for two-year schools, such as community colleges, average less than $4,000 per year. On top of that, schools like Southeast Community College offer financial assistance to more than 80% of their students, in the form of scholarships, grants, loans, or part-time employment.  

Savings like that can go a long way in helping college students make the right educational decisions regarding their future. As a recent study by Penn State University stated, “an estimated 20% to 50% of students enter college as ‘undecided,’” when it comes to choosing a major. Worse than that, the same study found that 75% of students switch majors over the course of their education.

Switching majors can be a costly endeavor, as it could require you to stay in school for an additional period of time if many of your earned college credits no longer apply to the new major you have chosen. That could cost you another semester, year, or more.

A community college, however, allows you to determine the major you truly want at a much cheaper cost. Southeast Community College, for instance, offers career training programs that let you get hands-on experience in the field or fields of your choice.

You can either earn an associate’s degree in that field or transfer once you have determined the path that is right for you. And most community colleges allow you to transfer credits to bigger universities when you decide to enroll elsewhere.

Choosing a major is a big decision, and making sure you choose correctly may be more challenging and costly than you realize. But by electing to attend a community college first, you can find the major that is right for you and even save tens of thousands of dollars in the process. Southeast Community College offers a wide range of training programs for students fresh out of high school or those who are looking to begin a new career path in life.

Find out how you can secure a better educational future by contacting Southeast Community College admissions department to schedule a meeting with an academic advisor. Just call them at 402-471-3333 or visit their website here to learn more.