Attending a community college is a dependable strategy to reduce the cost of earning a degree.
How much can you save?Think about $15,000 on average.
Plus, after you finish a two-year degree at a community college, numerous four-year universities have scholarships aimed specifically at transfer students that could shave off thousands more.
So, it’s clear how community college can help you cut education expenses.
But there’s even more!
Community colleges are public institutions built around a mission to expand access to higher education, prepare people for meaningful careers and strengthen the surrounding area. In short, they exist to offer learning, enrichment and practical life tools to anyone who wants them. Many of these resources are free or very inexpensive.
8 Resources You Can Access for Free (or Cheap) at a Community College
1. Community Events and Guest Speakers
Relocating to a new area can be costly. After you cover the expenses of moving and settling in, exploring your new city might seem fun — and pricey.
There are low-cost ways to connect with your surroundings that don’t involve pricey bars or restaurants. Community colleges frequently host engaging events at little or no cost. Expect “community conversations” with noteworthy speakers, meetups built around books or games, and educational offerings such as planetarium nights for stargazing.
2. Lifelong Learning Opportunities
Many community colleges (as well as four-year institutions)offer reduced or complimentary tuition for seniors. If you or someone you care about needs to tighten the budget in retirement, community college is an excellent option to stay mentally active without spending much — sometimes nothing at all.
3. Low-Cost Dental Services
Dental training programs need patients for students to gain practical experience. By receiving dental care at an educational facility, you can save hundreds on procedures that might otherwise be expensive.
Numerous community colleges run dental hygienist programs, so you can have your teeth cleaned by students for a small fraction of the usual price.
4. Help with Resumes and Cover Letters
Applying for your first real position? Unsure how to format a resume or what to include in a cover letter? Community colleges often provide resume-writing workshops and career help to assist job seekers in making a strong impression.
5. Affordable Fitness Classes
Wave goodbye to an $80-per-month gym bill! Yoga, Zumba, weight training, climbing walls, basketball and tennis courts, lap pools — many community college campuses offer these activities, frequently free or much cheaper than commercial gyms.
6. Budget-Friendly Venue Rentals
Want to know what else community colleges have in abundance? Space. If you’re organizing an event — a civic luncheon, a holiday gathering or even a wedding — consider campus venues. You may be surprised at how much more economical college facilities are compared with country clubs or restaurant banquet rooms.
7. Summer Programs for Children
Each summer, families juggle childcare and the sometimes steep cost of camp. Community colleges provide a variety of lower-cost summer programs for different ages. Kids can dive into theater or learn programming, while high school seniors can attend college-prep boot camps to ease the move to higher education. Look into what your nearby community college offers during the summer months.
8. Foreign Language and ESL Instruction
Always wanted to speak German? Planning travel and hoping to pick up some basics? While apps are convenient, community colleges deliver in-person language classes for this exact reason. And for those learning English as a second language, community colleges present numerous courses to help newcomers improve their English proficiency.
Jordan Ellis is a former senior editor at Savinly.
