Web Site for the Official Student Newspaper of Normandale Community College in Bloomington, Minnesota Opinion Choosing 2-year college saves students money By Samantha Callahan Many students feel that going to a community college the first or second year of their college experience is an inexpensive way to complete basic college requirements. Normally, these credits would cost more at a university or state college, due to increasing tuition prices. A student rally protesting the increases in tuition was held on Feb. 14, but so far no significant legislative efforts have been undertaken to reduce tuition. Out of the many benefits of attending a community college, the money saved is probably one of the most appealing to financially conscious students. Many people think that by going to a community college they won’t receive an education as demanding or beneficial as attending a larger or more expensive school. In fact, students attending a community college are getting the same exact same learning experience as at any other college. While others may pay more to go to a big university, the class sizes are larger and students may not receive as much assistance as they would at a community college. It is important for students to realize if they would benefit more in a larger or smaller classroom setting before they decide where they will study. In addition, many professors at NCC worked in a field prior to teaching. This provides a professional edge and brings real world experiences into the classroom. When a student attends NCC for 2 years they have the opportunity to earn an A.A. degree and transfer their credits if they wish to obtain a bachelor’s degree. Also, NCC has a great financial aid system. People who have to pay all their way through college should consider taking advantage of all the help they can get. Information on how to receive financial aid is located in the financial aid office, located across from the records offices. NCC also provides academic scholarships to those with a high GPA, as well as an opportunity to graduate with honors. Attending a semester at NCC full-time would be around $2000, while at a university such as the U of M it would be around $7000 a semester. Obviously, this huge monetary difference illustrates a widening gap in tuition prices and is just another reason to consider enrolling at NCC.