Every year, it gets more expensive to go to college at a four-year institution. According to Forbes, if your child is going to college in the next few years, it could cost as much as $334,000 for a four-year degree from an elite college. Instead, many students are choosing to attend a community college before they transfer credits to a four-year institution.

At Southeast Community College, a community college with campuses in Lincoln, Beatrice, and Milford, Nebraska, the staff works closely with students and their families to help them reduce their educational debt. By starting at a community college and transferring credits to a four-year college or university to complete your bachelor’s degree—a strategy known as the 2+2 plan—you can save thousands of dollars.

How The 2+2 Plan Works

If you are considering a 2+2 plan, it helps to know which four-year institution you want to eventually transfer credits to. Many SCC students transfer credits to the University of Nebraska–Lincoln (UNL).

When you start at SCC, academic transfer advisors assist you in developing a program of study that meets your academic and transfer goals. For example, students often choose to fulfill their general education requirements at the community college and pursue their major-specific credits at a four-year university.

How You Can Save Thousands

According to CollegeBoard, the average annual cost at a two-year college is $3,000. UNL accepts a maximum of 60 semester hours from a community college, so if you complete all 60 units at a community college, you could save up to $66,000 compared to the same education at a state or private school. If during those two years, you also improve your GPA, you could earn scholarships that were previously unavailable to you. Additionally, many community college students live at home, so they save money on room and board.

By attending a community college for two years before you transfer credits, you can save money and earn your degree at the four-year institution of your choice. For more information about Southeast Community College, visit the website or call the Lincoln campus at (402) 471-3333.