Should I get a 2 year College Degree, or go straight for a 4 year College Degree Program

By Susan - Monday 29 Dec 2:00 pm

You have graduated from high school and are looking towards your future college degree, but what are your options and where do you head from here? You are presented with two main options right off the bat: electing to enrol in a two year college degree or a 4 year college degree. Although 4 year college degrees receive a lot of hype and attention, they are not always the most suited for your personal requirements. There are pros and cons to each college degree and you will need to equip yourself with the background information on each one to decide for yourself which college degree is made for you.

Four year college degrees usually entail that students complete very general background subjects for the first two years, and then concentrate on their majoring subjects for the final two years. Those opting for two year college degrees go straight into their majoring subjects and complete their degrees in less time, although with a slightly lower level of recognition.

Pros of Two Year College Degrees:

• They are the cheaper alternative, resulting in you having less debt to pay on your college loan or perhaps no debt at all due to the overall reduction in fees 
• They are quicker than 4 year college degrees allowing you to start working much sooner upon completion 

Pros of Four Year College Degrees:

• These college degrees are highly recognized and rewarded worldwide in terms of employment opportunities 
• Highly commendable on and off campus learning opportunities in the form of lectures, cultural events, honor societies etc on campus, and study internships, field trips and education programs off campus 

Cons of Two Year College Degrees:

•  Not as highly revered as four year college degrees 
• Not as well rounded as four year college degrees resulting in a smaller scale of availability on the job front 

Cons of Four Year College Degrees: 

• The four year college degree option is extremely expensive, and will more often than not require that students take out a large college loan to pay for it. This could result in a substantial amount of debt needing to be covered after graduation 
• You can only start working two years after your counterparts who opted for the two year program 

Some students might not have the option of being able to study a four year college degree due to financial reasons, but they shouldn’t worry about it or feel that they have started out with a disadvantage. There are many jobs available to two year college degree holders, and many equal opportunities too. On the flip side of that coin are the advantages of studying a four year college degree if it is a viable choice for you. Some may choose to upgrade from a two year to a four year along the way once more funds have become available. Just because you have committed to one, it does not mean that you are stuck with your decision until completion. There is a lot of flexibility within both choices to change your college degree to suit your personal growth.

Posted in: College Degrees

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