When planning your journey from high school to college, how to pay for your degree is probably the first thing you are worried about. That’s not uncommon and why we are sharing this information to help you with your planning.
A recent study from the Community College Research Center at Teachers College, Columbia University found that students who got their associate degree at a community college, before transferring to a four-year university, increased the likelihood of completing their path to getting bachelor’s degree. This strategy also helped save students money, and improve their earnings compared with that of earlier transfers without the associate degree.
The study also found that the economic benefit of having an associate degree before going to a four-year school added an average of $50,000 to their earnings over 20 years.
How easy is it to transfer credits from state to state?
So you want to go to an out-of-state, 4-year school and are worried that your credits won’t transfer. Good news, there is an organization, NC-SARA, working with each state to have a national standard for education courses and programs credits, ensuring that they meet the standards from state to state. Find out more at State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA).
EDUKAN is also working with several four-year schools to make it even easier for you to use this strategy to not only save you money but help you reach your goals.
One such program is the MyPath2ASU program from ASU. MyPath2ASU™ allows students to take the steps needed, at the start of their college experience, to successfully plan their transfer to ASU, ensuring a smooth transition process and student success.
We also have close relationships with other schools such as Fort Hays State University, Kansas State University, and Wichita State University.
Our staff are committed to helping you reach your education goals and can help you with questions about courses, transferability and more.
In closing, here are five reasons you should get your Associate Degree before you transfer:
- Getting an associate degree gives you a marketable credential, it shows that you recognize the value of your education achievements and increases your overall earning potential for the future.
- Many 4-year schools will recognize your associate degree ensuring you enter as a Junior. This is where pre-planning is important, working with counselors will help you make the the right choices.
- If you are not able to continue your studies for whatever reason, even temporary, having an associate degree will help you with future employment and will help you when you are able to continue your degree path.
- There are 2+2 programs for accelerated degrees at four-year schools and can benefit those with an associate degree whereas some courses may not transfer.
- The credit hour costs at an accredited community college will save you a tremendous about of money over a four-year institution. If you are looking at a school that costs $400 per credit hour versus a community college that is $150 per credit hour, you will save $15,000 (60 credit comparison).
- Other considerations are taking courses online giving you flexibility so you can fit the classes into your schedule easier and save money on travel
- Saving money on books with embedded learning materials online
Finally, plan ahead. Reach out to your high school or college counselor to make plans about the courses you need to take, transferability, and more.
Why EDUKAN?
We’ve been helping students ‘online’ since 1998.
EDUKAN offers flexible college course scheduling for and we accept students around the globe for the same tuition costs
The challenge for most students with dreams of going to college is the cost of tuition. You can lower the cost of getting your degree by taking classes online from EDUKAN year-round. Find out how below.
Our tuition per hour cost is $150 for students in-state (Kansas) or out-of-state. As an example, if you take one of our online AA degree programs like our Associate of Applied Science, which has a requirement of 64 credit hours to complete the program, the tuition cost breaks down like this:
64 Credit Hours at $150 per credit hour = $9,600
EDUKAN students can take any of our online AA, AS, AAS, AGS and Certificate programs or classes year-round. Getting an AA degree or certification will also help with career advancement opportunities and the flexibility to pursue a bachelor’s degree on campus or online at a four-year university.
Other benefits for EDUKAN students include embedded learning materials and e-books with select classes that can save you hundreds of dollars a semester along with including online proctoring fees in our tuition saving the average student from $200-$400 a semester.
Even if you only need a handful of classes to complete your degree, we have 14 sessions available year-round, from the traditional semester-length to shorter sessions, to fit everyone’s schedule, giving you the flexibility of logging in anytime, from anywhere, to access your study materials.
Explore our other Undergraduate Degree or Online Certification Programs
EDUKAN is a partnership of four community colleges that have come together to offer you more class options and degree programs. You can go to class online and on-campus with us at Barton Community College, in Great Bend; Dodge City Community College, in Dodge City; Pratt Community College, in Pratt; and Seward County Community College, in Liberal.