why is a transferable college course so much more expensive?

by Theo Trantow 5 min read

Should you transfer from an expensive college to an affordable college?

May 07, 2020 · Typically, transfer students have to attend school for an extra year in order to receive a bachelor’s degree that would have taken them only 4 years to earn if they hadn’t switched schools. Adding more time can weigh a little heavy on the wallet — another year (or two) means additional semesters of tuition, living costs, and other school expenses.

Why do people transfer from 2 year to 4 year colleges?

Dec 19, 2009 · Unlike the other students at the college, the transfer student does not have a strong group of friends and has not connected with the college's faculty, clubs, student organizations and social scene. While these social costs are not financial, they can become financial if this isolation leads to depression, poor academic performance, or difficulty lining up …

Do you lose money when you transfer colleges?

Mar 18, 2016 · It might be harder to get into your four-year school as a transfer; admission rates tend to be slightly lower for transfer students. Transfer scholarships might be limited. You would miss many social opportunities and opportunities to …

Is it better to transfer to a different University?

Sep 02, 2014 · An analysis of more than 300 public universities and colleges by U.S. News & World Report in 2013 found that the average per-credit, in-state cost for an online bachelor's degree program is $277 ...

Is transferring in college worth it?

Transferring colleges is worth it for students having financial issues or poor academic performance. It's also ideal for those wishing to earn a four-year degree after completing a two-year degree. However, most financial aid packages will not transfer with transferees to their new school.Mar 13, 2022

Is transferring colleges a waste of money?

The three points above lead to a major financial problem: students who transfer once will pay tuition and other college costs for an average of eight months longer than students who don't transfer. That's an average of eight months of spending money, not making money.Jun 27, 2018

What are the cons of transferring colleges?

Another disadvantage of transferring colleges is the possibility of losing out on scholarship and financial aid ³. Some transfer students are indebted to their previous school for scholarships that they received before making the decision to transfer to another college or university³.

Is it really cheaper to start at a community college the consequences of inefficient transfer for community college students seeking bachelor's degrees?

In the first state, where students transferred with an average of 61 accepted credits but lost 12 credits, the likelihood that a student would pay less by starting at a community college was 84 percent. Students could afford to lose as many as 40 credits and still benefit from starting at a community college.May 17, 2017

Should I transfer colleges to save money?

The benefits of transferring colleges: It could be that the current school is just too expensive, or maybe their interests have matured and changed. Regardless of the reason, another college just might be a better fit. NACAC found that 33% of college students transfer at some point, so they're certainly not alone.May 7, 2020

How do I transfer high schools in Texas?

You will need all of the following for your child:Birth certificate.Current record of immunizations.Child's records from the school most recently attended.Proof of address—a rental contract or utility bill will do.Parent's photo ID or driver's license.Child's social security card (this is optional in some districts)

Is being a transfer student hard?

There is a particular struggle to being a transfer student in college. Whether you start at a local community college, a sister school to your dream university, or some art school you decide you hate after a semester, transferring to a new school is emotionally and mentally challenging.Oct 3, 2017

What are some benefits of being a university transfer student?

Finding happiness through a better culture fit. Flexible program start times (often, transfer students can start their new program in the spring without “losing” a semester toward graduation) Opportunities to participate in sports or other extracurricular activities their current college doesn't offer.Dec 1, 2021

Is Transferring colleges hard?

Transferring colleges can be an intimidating process for many first-time college students. It can involve a lot of paperwork, for example, and time to acclimate to changes in schedules, scenery, and social circles. As with any change, transferring colleges requires adjustment.Oct 14, 2021

Why are community colleges so much cheaper than universities?

Across the board, community college is much more affordable. The average tuition is half that of a public university. Part of this is because community colleges are stripped down, avoiding things like big campus infrastructure and extracurricular programs that increase the overhead at large universities.

Are community colleges cheaper than universities?

Community college tuition is usually thousands of dollars cheaper than tuition for private and public four–year universities. According to the College Board, the average published yearly tuition and fees for a public two-year college is just $3,440—that represents an outstanding opportunity to save some cash!

What is a community college vs university?

The main difference between a community college and a university is that most degrees at a community college only take two years to complete, while degrees at a four year university take four years to complete. Why does it take four years to complete a degree at a university but only two years at community college?

How many college students transfer at least once?

In fact, the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center conducted a large-scale study that found that 37.2 percent of all college students transfer at least once. There are many good reasons to transfer, and cost is certainly one of them.

Who is Allen Grove?

Dr. Allen Grove is an Alfred University English professor and a college admissions expert with 20 years of experience helping students transition to college. Before you decide to transfer to a new college, be sure to consider all of the costs.

Do you lose money when you transfer to a new college?

Even if the school to which you are applying has lower tuition or better financial aid than your current college, you may find that you actually lose money by deciding to transfer . The reality is that hundreds of thousands of college students transfer each year..

Do merit scholarships go to first year students?

The best merit scholarships tend to go to incoming first-year students. Also, at many schools transfer applications are accepted much later than the applications for new first-year students. Financial aid, however, tends to get awarded until funds dry up.

Do you get credit for elective classes?

Most colleges will award you credit for the courses you've taken. However, for some courses, you may find that you receive elective credit only. In other words, you'll earn credit hours towards graduation, but the courses you took at your first school may not fulfill specific graduation requirements at your new school. This can lead to a situation in which you have enough credits to graduate, but you have not fulfilled your new school's general education or major requirements.

Do transfer students feel isolated?

Many transfer students feel isolated when they arrive at their new college. Unlike the other students at the college, the transfer student does not have a strong group of friends and has not connected with the college's faculty, clubs, student organizations and social scene.

What does it mean to go to college?

Where to go to college is a huge decision. For some students, it means going straight into a four-year college or university; for others, it’s going to a community college first and then transferring to a four-year school. There are good and bad aspects to either option.

Why do people go to community colleges?

Not only does going to a community college let you adjust to college coursework but it also allows you to stay close to home if you aren't feeling ready to go out on your own just yet.

Can you meet other transfer students at a four year college?

You can meet other transfer students at your new school during the transfer orientation and maybe by living in a transfer student dorm.

Do you need a high school standardized test to transfer?

Your high school standardized tests scores might be less important in your transfer application (depending on the four-year school and how long you’ve been out of high school).

Is it better to transfer or go straight to college?

Other students with a clear idea of what they want to study might be better off going straight into a four-year college.

Is community college cheaper than four year college?

Community college is generally a lot cheaper than a traditional four-year college. Earning general education credits at a community college and transferring into a four-year school can help you save quite a lot of money.

Is it harder to transfer to a four year school?

It might be harder to get into your four-year school as a transfer; admission rates tend to be slightly lower for transfer students. Transfer scholarships might be limited. You would miss many social opportunities and opportunities to meet people that are unique to freshman year.

What is college transfer?

College transfer is not just about switching colleges, campuses or schools. Academic credit transfer also covers other forms of petitioning for course credit, its award and how the credits count (or don't) toward degree requirements. There are many good reasons motivating students to transfer, necessitating questions about how a student's academic ...

What percentage of college graduates transfer at least once?

Switching colleges and transferring courses from one school to another crosses a lot of college student minds. 60% of 4-year graduates every year have transferred at least once before completing their degree. College transfer is not just about switching colleges, campuses or schools. Academic credit transfer also covers other forms ...

What does changing your major mean?

Changing your major impacts how course credits are counted and often requires additional course work. Switching from Nursing to Marketing, for example, may mean that some of the health care courses overtax your electives because they aren't relevant to your new major.

What happens when you change your major?

When this happens, you’re not going to have any choice but to transfer and switch colleges. Changing your major impacts how course credits are counted and often requires additional course work.

What is home school?

One school acts as the home college, or originating school, where the degree would be earned. The home school acts as the transcripting institution. Course transfer then occurs back to the home institution. If the institution accepts the course work, it is transcribed and matched with degree requirements.

What is a sports transfer?

Sports transfer: T his is a category of transfer that has been governed by athletic associations, rather than the academic institutions directly. Student transfers can occur because the coach and student have too much friction, the opportunity for playing is diminished or expectations are not well addressed.

What is the challenge of military transfer?

The subtle challenge for Military transfer is that some servicemen will change their home institution or change majors, resulting in re-assessment of their prior learning.

Why do students transfer to a new college?

Here are some of the top reasons students transfer to a new college: Financial circumstances: Cost is a major factor in college completion.

What is sports transfer?

Sports transfer: This is a category of transfer that has been governed by athletic associations, rather than the academic institutions directly. Student transfers can occur because the coach and student have too much friction, the opportunity for playing is diminished or expectations are not well addressed.

How many people never finished college?

Make sure you take your time to find a new school and study the programs offered before enrolling. There are over 40 million adults in the U.S. alone with some college level experience that never finished college. There are millions more across the world.

What is home school?

One school acts as the home college, or originating school, where the degree would be earned. The home school acts as the transcripting institution. Course transfer then occurs back to the home institution. If the institution accepts the course work, it is transcribed and matched with degree requirements.

Why are public universities so expensive?

First and foremost, these terms only apply to public universities, which rely on allocations of tax revenue from their states’ governments to subsidize their operations. This is one reason why public universities generally have lower tuition rates than private universities, which require their students to bear the entire brunt of the school’s expenses in their tuitions.

Why do out-of-state students pay more?

Out-of-state students pay more simply because they do not pay taxes to the state in which the university is located. In-state residents, on the other hand, have been supporting the state, and thus indirectly funding the university, all their lives. Thus, lower tuition costs are the state’s way of both rewarding its residents for their contributions ...

What is reciprocity agreement?

Reciprocity agreements refer to agreements made by neighboring or nearby states to offer breaks in tuition to each other’s residents. While there are many different reciprocity agreements between states and even between individual universities, there are four main regions that offer substantial reciprocity agreements.

What is tuition waiver?

Tuition waivers are similar to scholarships but are awarded on the basis of need or gratitude rather than academic merit or athleticism. Most tuition waivers are doled out based on financial need. Many of the best, and priciest, colleges in the nation give generous tuition waivers to low-income families.

Why are universities shunning out of state students?

Higher tuition should not be interpreted to mean that universities are shunning out-of-state students because they are somehow a burden to the school or they don’t fly the same flag. In fact, universities have many incentives to accept high numbers of out-of-state students.

Why are out-of-state scholarships beneficial?

These scholarships are beneficial to out-of-staters because out-of-state applicants only compete for them against other out-of-staters. The competition pool is much smaller, so they are easier to earn. Almost all schools offer out-of-state scholarships that are relatively easy to win—some are even awarded automatically.

How to get a better idea of how out-of-state students are treated by your school’s admission department

To get a better idea of how out-of-state students are treated by your school’s admission department, research the percentages of their undergraduate populations that come from out of state and what financial benefits they offer exclusively to out-of-state students.

What percentage of community college students want a bachelor's degree?

When they first arrive, about 80 percent of community college students say they want to earn a bachelor’s degree. But the path to the B.A. is fraught. Only 13 percent of the students who start at a community college manage to get a bachelor’s degree six years later, according to the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center.

Why was AP denied transfer to 4 year university?

Moreno described situations where students who had Advanced Placement (AP) credits from high school were denied a transfer to a four-year university because they hadn’t separately submitted their AP test scores directly from the College Board to the four-year university.

What is the Hechinger Report?

The Hechinger Report is a national nonprofit newsroom that reports on one topic: education. Sign up for our weekly newsletters to get stories like this delivered directly to your inbox. Students are often advised to start college at a public community college as a way to save thousands of dollars on a bachelor’s degree.

Who writes Proof Points?

Jill Barshay writes the weekly “Proof Points” column about education research and data, covering a range of topics from early childhood to higher education. She taught algebra to ninth-graders for... More by Jill Barshay

Why is online tuition so high?

The three main reasons for higher online tuition were, in order, “Added costs of online instruction and support services,” the “Added cost of online course and program development,” and “Added costs of online program marketing.”. And they’re not wrong.

How much does UCF spend on online programs?

According to a recent marketing effort put out by ASU, UCF spends $8.6 million a year on a team of 90 to run their online program. They have jobs such as “instructional designers, web designers, multimedia personnel, data analysts, quality assurance experts, and student support services staff.”.

What is OPM in school?

Some schools bypass or defray these initial and ongoing costs by entering into design, management and marketing agreements without outside companies known as online program managers (OPM). In those agreements, schools agree to share their tuition revenue with outside, for-profit, companies .

How much does the University of Central Florida cost?

The University of Central Florida, which also has one of the largest online programs in the country, charges in-state students an $18 per credit “distance learning fee” that on campus students don’t pay – $216 more per student per semester for the minimum full-time attendance. That’s not unusual.

Is online college less expensive?

Shutterstock. Online college programs were supposed to be less expensive. With no physical campus to maintain, no limits on class sizes and the ability to recycle content, you'd think they should be. Yet most colleges charge the same or more for their online programs as they do for their traditional, in-person offerings.

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