Students who attend a community college first can save a substantial amount of money.

Many community colleges and four-year colleges or universities have articulation agreements which allow students to transfer in as juniors with all of their credits in tow. The transition is generally seamless and the tuition savings on the first two years at a community college versus two years at a four-year school are steep. Some colleges also offer merit scholarships to students from community colleges that obtain grade point averages that exceed 3.3. Many students are unsure about majors and career choices. The tuition break at a community college is more forgiving of students who change their minds before settling on a major.

Plan of Action
o Identify the four year college you would like to attend based on your major, future career choices and funding.Following that, check into your local community colleges to determine which colleges have a transfer policy with your college of choice. Often, students take their general education credits at the community college and transfer all of the credits to a four-year school after completing their associates degree. The tuition savings, depending on the area you live in, can range from $3000 to $4000 a semester compared to the average state school. That is a total of $12,000 to $16,000 in savings over two years. These numbers do not include the cost of room and board. If you continue to reside with your parents, your save even more.

Summer School
o Students attending four-year schools can take summer classes at their local community colleges rather than staying on campus for the summer and paying steep tuition costs. Some of these classes can also be taken online, saving you travel expenses. Depending on your course load, you can save hundreds to thousands of dollars over your college career taking summer classes at your local community college. Before registering and attending, check with your school to make sure the credits are transferable.

High School
o Begin college while you're still in high school. Eligible high school juniors and seniors are able to take college classes, often for free, at their local community college. They earn high school and college credit at the same time. Some colleges loan the books to the high school students, further cutting their expenses. Students can get a year of college in before they even graduate high school. A free year of college is a substantial savings.

Community Colleges that Offer BA and MA Programs
o Some community colleges have partnered with colleges and universities to offer complete bachelor's and master's degree programs at the community college campus. Sussex County Community College, located in Newton, NJ has partnered with Felician College to offer bachelor's degree programs in business, criminal justice, education and nursing. It has also partnered with Seton Hall University to offer a Masters of Arts and Education Specialist Program in Education Leadership Management Policy. The curriculum is set up to begin in your freshman year. It maximizes the number of low-cost community college courses. Commuting and housing costs are eliminated as you stay at your local community college for the entire duration of your college career.