Reasons to Consider a Community College on Your Path to a Four-Year Degree By Kim Dobro August 2010

Facts About Community Colleges in Massachusetts 4 out of 10 Massachusetts students who go to college will choose a Massachusetts two-year community college. There are 15 community colleges in Massachusetts. Our local community college, and the one we will be examining in this presentation, is Quinsigamond Community College in Worcester, Massachusetts.

Facts About Quinsigamond Community College (QCC) The college serves over 13,000 students each year through its day and evening classes. Tuition is the lowest in the region at $158 per credit for Massachusetts residents. The college offers over 40 different associate (two-year) degrees in: Business Technology Liberal Arts Health Care Human Services

Like a Four-Year College QCC offers: Athletics Clubs Honors Program

Quinsigamond Athletics QCC is a member of the National Junior College Athletic Association Men’s Basketball/Women’s Basketball/Baseball/Softball Brand new fitness center Intramurals Flag Football Basketball Dodge ball Indoor Soccer Frisbee Golf

QCC Clubs and Organizations Chess Club Pride Alliance Criminal Justice Club Engineering Club Open Door Newspaper Dental Hygiene Club Latino Student Organization and many, many more….. and many, many more….. Student Senate Psychology Club Sign Language Club Human Services Club Theater Club Black Student Union Programming Committee

QCC Honors Program The QCC Honors Program strives to motivate academically talented students to develop their fullest potential. New students must score an 8 or above on the CPT Placement test; place into English 101; and place into Math 1099 or higher to be admitted to the program. It is accredited as a Commonwealth Honors Program

Honors Program Students: Complete selected courses on an Honors level Participate in an Honors Colloquium Participate in Cultural and Social Events Receive personal guidance and peer support Increase their scholarship and transfer opportunities

What are Articulation Agreements? Formal contracts between QCC and other colleges. They specify which QCC programs are included. They specify which QCC courses will transfer.

What are the benefits of Articulation Agreements? Guaranteed acceptance from a QCC program to a given major. Guaranteed transfer of QCC courses They assure Junior/Upper class student standing in certain majors Transfer scholarships may be available Takes the guesswork out of identifying courses which transfer to the specific institution

What is Required in Articulation Agreements? Requirements may vary from school to school, and agreement to agreement. One or more of the following may apply: Earn the Associate degree first Meet the GPA requirements Participate in an interview Provide a portfolio

Examples of QCC Articulation Agreements Basic Engineering Worcester Polytechnic Institute Liberal Arts Clark University Telecommunication Technology Rochester Institute of Technology Nurse Education Emmanuel College Dental Hygiene Mass Colleg of Pharmacy and Health Sciences

How Can an Articulation Agreement Save You Money? 2 years tuition and fees at QCC=$7,724 2 years tuition and fees at WPI= $77,400 $85,124 + = 4 years tuition and fees at WPI 154,800 = Difference= $69,676 for the same diploma! WPI amounts do not include room and board (QCC does not have housing) QCC and WPI amounts can vary based upon different financial aid amounts that can offset these totals. Example: Articulation agreement between QCC and Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Mass Transfer Starting in the fall of 2009 Massachusetts now has the Mass Transfer Program. It is the new way to maximize transfer credit and complete a degree in Massachusetts public higher education. All public institutions: community colleges, state colleges, and universities in Massachusetts accept the Mass Transfer agreement.

MASS Transfer has two options: 1.Provide community college students who complete associate degrees and enroll in linked Mass Transfer programs at public 4 -year institutions with full transfer of credit, guaranteed admission, and a tuition discount (each based on final GPA); or 2)Provide any student in the Massachusetts public higher education system who completes the Mass Transfer Block with the benefit of satisfying the general education requirements at any public higher education institution. 1.Provide community college students who complete associate degrees and enroll in linked Mass Transfer programs at public 4 -year institutions with full transfer of credit, guaranteed admission, and a tuition discount (each based on final GPA); or 2)Provide any student in the Massachusetts public higher education system who completes the Mass Transfer Block with the benefit of satisfying the general education requirements at any public higher education institution.

Mass Transfer Block Credits Subject Areas 9Behavioral and social sciences 9Humanities and fine arts 7Natural or physical science 6English composition/writing 3Mathematics These credits, when completed together with a 2.0 or higher GPA fully transfer to any Massachusetts public higher education institution….even if you don’t have your associates degree. These credits satisfy the general education requirements at any other Massachusetts public higher education institution.

Potential Cost Savings of Mass Transfer 1 YR QCC 1 YR QCC 1 YR WSC 1 YR WSC Worcester State Diploma $20,524 1 YR WSC 1 YR WSC 1 YR WSC 1 YR WSC Worcester State Diploma $25,600 1 YR QCC 1 YR QCC 1 YR UMASS 1 YR UMASS UMASS Amherst Diploma $26,894 1 YR UMASS 1 YR UMASS 1 YR UMASS 1 YR UMASS UMASS Amherst Diploma $38,340

Through an Articulation Agreement or through a Mass Transfer program, on your college graduation day, you could receive an identical diploma as the other graduates with thousands of dollars less in debt.

Your “Safety” School Could Just Be Your Safest Bet!

Sources Massachusetts Community Colleges, Quick Facts, Mass Transfer Quinsigamond Community College, Articulations Tuition and fees fall Quick Facts Student Life Athletics Transferring to a 4 year college Worcester Polytechnic Institute Tuition and fees Worcester State College Tuition and fees