To reduce the cost of education in the United States, the Community College offers an interesting alternative discount.

Community colleges (also called "junior college" or "two-years college") represent a credible alternative to universities for students wishing to study in the United States. Cheaper, these diplomas and vocational courses are a good springboard to renowned schools or enter the workforce.

The United States is the leading destination for higher studies abroad. With 17 facilities in the Top 20 of the best world universities, difficult to challenge their supremacy. Harvard, Stanford, Yale, MIT, Berkeley ... these names sound like the holy grail of study abroad. Unfortunately, the best universities in the world are also the most selective and it is not enough to send them a complete application for admission. The price of the latter plays an important barrier. It takes an average of $ 30,000 for the academic year without shelter, food and pocket money. So the real cost will approach $ 50,000 per year, which discourages most candidates who do not have sufficient resources or need to incur astronomical student loans.

Community colleges are nevertheless a good way to lower the invoice. These state institutions, a sort of mix between BTS or DUT and preparatory classes, allow to obtain in 2 years an "Associate Degree" degree. This certificate is ideal for students wishing to enter directly into the labor market but also in parallel admission to integrate the 3rd year of the best American universities.

Community Colleges: a human-sized training

The success of the Community College, especially for international students, primarily due to its price. Tuition fees for a year are averaging $ 7,000, 4 times cheaper than a university. Campus and classes are smaller in size, so it is easier to integrate to, and finding their place within the institution. Acceptance is also simpler in the Community College. A mention in the Baccalaureate is not required and lower than average University are accepted. There is no age limit and some community colleges also include students who have not obtained their Bachelor's degree if they are over 18 years old. The entrance is very flexible for foreign students!

The first Community College, Joliet Junior College was established in 1901 to prepare for obtaining the Bachelor (equivalent to the LMD license). The model is developing rapidly to deliver in each state access to vocational courses of good standard, inexpensive and serving local communities.

If these courses were first designed for training in specific technical fields according to the specific needs of the local market, institutions now offer "transfer programs" that allow the end of the two years to integrate Community College a 3rd year University Bachelor. This course 2-year Community College + 2 years in University is proving much cheaper than the traditional course in University. The integration in the most prestigious universities including University of California, UC Berkeley or UCLA, still remains according to the results of the student. The diploma will be issued at the end of the two years of the Bachelor of University will be the same as that of students who will be back in the first year without going through the Community College.

If the community colleges are seen across the Atlantic as a secondary route, favored by the working classes, the level of this training is no longer in doubt. They are for foreign students, a good financial plan and a good springboard for study in the United States.

The recognition of the diploma "associate degree" is not necessarily an end in itself to find a job, but will for you to get a solid experience abroad and return bilingual ... while having lived a real American adventure .