Glorioso/April 26, 2017/Story 4 Community College/Photo

Why Students Choose Community College, a Look into Furthering Ones Education

by Brandon Glorioso

As the job market continues to become more and more competitive, many people are seeking to

widen their skill-sets, a task that brings them to

educate themselves past high school.

Community College is becoming a very popular

option, with students citing cost, flexibility and

job prospects as their encouragement towards

obtaining a degree.

I started taking a few gen-ed classes at HACC when I wasnt sure what I wanted to pursue,

said Corrine Guinter, a Computer Information Systems major at HACC Harrisburg Campus.

Then I stayed and realized I could still earn a degree that interested me, and HACC had the best

flexibility so I could keep my full-time job and take evening and online classes.

In Pennsylvania, there are 14 community colleges, including Harrisburg Area Community

College. Combined, they offer over 100 programs, giving students the option to earn an associate

degree, a certificate, a diploma, or transfer credits that can be transferred to a four-year college or

university, helping to complete a bachelors degree.

My entire degree is available online, and I dont think other colleges offer that, said Angie

Davis, a Web Application Development major at the HACC Virtual Campus. Being a virtual

student is the only way I can fit college into my life.

HACC, Central Pennsylvanias Community College offers its programs on campus at the

Gettysburg, Harrisburg, Lancaster, Lebanon or York Campuses, or online through Virtual

Learning.

Community college students, both on-campus and online, are provided with numerous services

to help them complete their education and get into the workforce. HACC, Central Pennsylvanias

Community College offers career services, financial aid, tutoring and student clubs and

organizations.

Community College offers me the ability to earn a two-year degree that allows me to enter the

work force quickly, said Jesse Hummel, a Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning major at

HACC- Harrisburg Campus.

According to a 2016 study by the U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics, students who complete an

associate degree are less likely to be unemployed, with an unemployment rate of 3.6 percent

when compared to those who only attain a high school diploma, with an unemployment rate of

5.2 percent.

I started my classes when I was a senior in high school, said Jeremy Craine, a Computer

Information Systems major the HACC Gettysburg Campus. Jeremy participated in the Dual-

enrollment program, a program available to both high school and college students.

Dual-enrollment allows the student to take classes while in high school, or enroll in a four-year

college or university while taking classes at a community college. This allows a student to

consult with advisors from both schools, participate in activities and transfer credits as they are

completed.
According to a study by the National Research Center for Career and Technical Education, dual-

enrollment programs increase the number of students that will continue past their first semester

by 4.2 percent.

Cheaper tuition really influenced me to choose community college, said Ethan Tipton, a

Business Administration major at the HACC Gettysburg Campus.

HACC tuition is paid per credit, where the student is only required to pay for the amount of

credits that they choose to take during a semester. Tuition price varies depending on student

status, with in-state students paying the least, while out-of-state students pay more.

For the 2016-2017 school year, tuition ranges from $215.75-$307.50 per credit. A student taking

15 credits will pay between $3236.25-$3690.00 per semester, depending on residency status.

Is furthering your education for everyone, said Michael McCloskey, a part-time instructor of

history at HACC Gettysburg Campus. No, but for those who give it their all, they will see a

definite improvement in their lives.

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