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I can understand your confusion in decision making. The major differences and benefits of community colleges & universities are…

1. Courses/Programs: Community colleges are sometimes referred to as '2-year colleges' and mostly offer associate's degree programs that you can typically complete in two years or less, depending on enrolment status i.e., its part time or full time course. Most community colleges also offer short-term certificate and diploma programs that train you for a specific career.

Universities generally offer programs that result in bachelors, masters and doctoral degrees and take longer to complete (4+ years). Both community colleges and universities offer a variety of programs of study, but universities typically have a much larger range of options and sometimes have smaller colleges within them.

2. Entry Level Requirements: Community colleges typically have much less strict admission requirements than universities. In fact, many have open admission policies. Universities tend to be much pickier when it comes to admissions, which means you better be ready to do more than just submit an application.

3. Class Sizes: Universities have much larger class sizes due to the number of students that attend the school, and this can mean less one-on-one attention from teachers for you. Community colleges usually have a much lower overall student population, class sizes are also much smaller.

4. Fees/Cost: Community colleges are much cheaper than universities. Fees for a public 2-year college is $3,440 for in-district students. The average annual cost for a public 4-year university is $9,410 for in-state students and $23,890 for out-of-state students.

Typically, a community college is non-residential and supported locally, regionally, and/or by the state government. They offer two- and/or three-year programs and award associate degrees. Many community colleges have articulation agreements with four-year colleges and universities. These agreements allow for a smoother transition from a two-year community college to a four-year college or university.

One is 4 years and the other is 2, respectively

Anyone can go to a community college (hence the "community" part). Generally speaking they focus on liberal arts courses, though you can certainly get physics and chemistry at many colleges. You can get a two-year Associates degree from a CC. They're also *much* cheaper (remember the "community" part). They're really a great idea because you can get liberal arts classes for 4 year universities out of the way without paying through the nose for them.

A university is made up of different colleges (arts & sciences, music, law..) and has strict guidelines on who they accept. Of course, if you go to a state school, you will have a better chance of getting in than an out-of-state school. State schools are also usually cheaper than private universities. Universities offer a much wide variety of courses, and you get a Bachelor's degree (4 year degree) when you've completed all of your classes satisfactorily. You can go on further at universities to get Masters and PhD degrees. Universities are much more expensive than CCs.

Just as an aside, I went to both a private university and a state university, and there was no difference in the quality of education. If I had it all to do over again, I would get my Associates degree from a CC first, then transfer to a 4 year state school right off the bat.

Good luck to you!

Community college is 2 years where you can get an associates degree or some certifications. University is for bachelors degrees (4 year degree) or higher (masters and doctorates).

A university usually has MORE THAN ONE college or school AND it universities offer graduate and professional degree programs. like masters, and several different kinds of doctoral degree programs, medical AND academic doctoral degree programs and law degree programs,

Universities usually have MORE THAN ONE undergraduate colleges or schools, 4 year colleges, but it often takes people longer than 4 years, that offer bachelors degrees programs.. Usually 4 year colleges DO NOT OFFER associate degree programs, 2 year degree programs at all.. Those are the main differences between a community college and university that USUALLY has MORE THAN ONE college. or school. Community colleges CAN offer bachelor's degrees and even one or maybe two master's degrees programs, but not ALL community colleges do that.

Associate degrees ARE NOT required to earn bachelor's degrees.

IF you go to a university , you have to apply for admission into degree program offered by a particular college, or colleges, NOT the ENTIRE university.

https://study.com/blog/community-college-vs-univer...

cc schools are cheaper and have smaller class sizes, they offer classes that you have to take at universities( so why not take them for cheaper price-you learn the same thing-sometimes even better). But they also have trade schools classes that can get you out into the open fields faster then 4 years. I took that route and was happy. cc I was working and going to school. It's the way to go if you have a job or family and not to spend every waking moment at just school. If you want to get lost among the party-goers and know exactly what you want to do (most don't) then university might be better.

A university education is a much better education and more in depth. Community college education is just about doing the basic work, without developing a very critical nor analytical attitude. It's a base line education, nothing more. You get your qualification from a C/C. but you haven't really got much sense of how your knowledge may be expanded, contextualized, nor does it give you the skills to extend your degree into a valuable post-graduate qualification. If all you want is a simple qualification, without an actual good education, go to a C.C. If, on the other hand, you actually what to think about what you're studying, to critique it, to discuss and argue with it, to deepen your understanding, to cross-reference your comprehension from a multiple of perspectives (in other words, to have a genuine knowledge beyond basic facts) go to a university.

I know these things because I have several university degrees, including a doctorate, from three universities as well as worked as a university lecturer, and I am a former community college teacher.

Schools for losers

Usually a university is more selective in who it admits as a student. You have to have a high GPA and often certain classes in high school to get into a University. So a degree from a university is often seen as being "better". If you are competing with all "A" and "B" high school students and still getting "A"'s it shows you are a better student.

A community college will usually take anyone - including people who may not have even finished high school. (Though they take classes to get them through a nigh school level before they start the college classes.) So you are competing with a lower level of students. Getting a "A" in a class made up of up "C", "D" and failed high school students is not seen as bein as good.

Community colleges are often half the cost of a university. The core classes are identical in either school. So many students will elect to take a year or two of community college to get the "required" classes like English 101 out of the way, and then transfer to a university for the classes related to their "major". They graduate with a degree from the university but saved 25% (or more) on tuition. Their degree is considered to be just as good as someone who went to the university for four years.

A community college (used to be called a 'junior college') offers 2 year degrees. You go there to become a 'technician'. They're also cheaper, so they're seen as the answer for someone who doesn't have a lot of money but needs to learn a useful skill to make a living. Also people who already work in a field will use them for night school to enhance their job skills.

A regular 'college' is a 4-year institution where you can get a bachelor's degree.

A university often includes multiple colleges--a college of arts and sciences, a college of history, a college of performing arts, a college of medicine or whatever. Also universities offer advanced degrees, a master's degree or a 'doctor of philosophy' (PhD).

Of course all these definitions aren't etched in stone somewhere. In different places they're different. In Canada, for instance, a 4-year college is called a 'university'.