1. The Two-Year College Advantage
Kensey Balzer
Admissions Representative
Newark Campus

2. Myth or Fact?
No one successful attends a two-year college.

3. Myth
Tom Hanks- Said he attended a 2 year school because it was more affordable. When driving by his old school (Chabot College) he said the best way to sum up his 2 year school is, “It made me happy”
Guy Fieri- Went to the College of the Redwoods, American River College. In his words he said, “I know firsthand, the impact community colleges can have on a person’s life. If you want to study a specific vocation or subject, such as culinary arts, at a community college, look for a school that is strong in that area.
Morgan Freeman- Went to Los Angeles City College. Morgan Freeman is well known for his distinct voice and when asked where he learned to speak so beautifully he credited his community college saying, “ I went to a school to study how to be an actor and at his school he had a voice diction instructor who was very good at his job.”
Halle Berry- attended Cuyahoga Community College in the 1980s, studying broadcast journalism.

4. Ohio’s 23 state-assisted technical and community colleges

5. Two-Year College Opportunities
College Credit Plus and Articulation Agreements
Technical Associate Degrees – an exceptional path to employment and/or a bachelor’s degree
Transient (guest) enrollment for students who are pursuing higher education out of the area
Credit obtained for purpose of transferring
Associate of Arts or Associate of Science – general education coursework towards a bachelor’s degree

6. Myth or Fact?
Obtaining a community college degree is not as useful as a university degree.

7. Myth More associate degree holders have their dream jobs.
Associate degrees vs Bachelors.
Associate degree holders exceed the salaries of Bachelors.
30% vs 26% .
More advised to find their passions at a 2 year school.
Experience at a 4 year vs a 2 year.
USA Funds Reports did a survey to ask graduates with associates and bachelor's degrees if they have their dream jobs and associate degree holders are a couple percentage points higher than those with a bachelor’s degree. These results show that people are getting jobs that are relevant to their education experience at the associate degree level.
The number of jobs requiring an associate degree from will be higher than those with a bachelor’s degree. This means that more opportunities are arising where an associate’s degree is all that is needed. Bureau of Labor Statistics
3) The number of jobs requiring an associate degree from will be higher than those with a bachelor’s degree. Bureau of Labor Statistics
More jobs are opening up that an associate’s degree is what they are looking for. This means you are able to go to school for 2 years and get out and find a job. A 4- year degree is not always needed.
4) 30% of associate degree holders said they felt their professors actually cared about their students vs the 26% of bachelor degree holders.
Associate degree holders tend to be much more purposeful according to student interest and giving students a pathway to their dream job.
5) By doing studies they found that students going to a 2 year school were more advised to find their passions vs people going for a 4 year degree.
6) “Lifelong learning and creating enlightened thinkers are certainly outcomes, but (4 year schools) can lose track of the fact that there # 1 reason people go to college is to get a job. – Meaning they are lacking getting the skills they need to be successful in their careers.” USA FUNDS REPORT QUOTE

8. General Facts
9 million undergraduates are enrolled in credit courses at community colleges in the United States. CCRC 2017
Courses taken at a community colleges are of the same rigor as their comparable courses at four-year schools.
Annual average salary for 2017 Ohio associate degree graduates six months past graduation was $ $41,496. Smartasset 2017 •

9. General Facts
Employment for associate degree graduates is expected to grow by 23% over the next decade. OACC
60% of registered nurses graduated from an associate degree nursing program. 87% of these graduates passed the licensure exam on the first try. NACAC
40% of engineers earning a bachelors degree attended a community college. NACAC

10. Myth or Fact?
Students go to a two-year college, because they were not able to get into a four-year institution or cannot make it at a four year school.

11. Myth
36% of all undergraduate students begin their studies at a two-year college. CCRC 2017
According to Community College Review, students who begin at community colleges “tend to earn a higher GPA than students who begin their academic careers at a four-year university”.
There are multiply pathways for students to consider and some choose two-year colleges.

12. Average Annual Tuition

13. Why students choose 2-year colleges
Want an environment where they get more personal attention and access to support services and resources
Want to complete a career & technical certificate or degree
Want to save money and reduce debt
Want smaller class sizes with more instructor interaction
Haven’t decided if they want a 4-yr degree
Want to live at home or locally

14. Reasons for Transfer
Haven’t decided on a major & want to explore options
Want to be sure institution is accredited & credits transfer
Want to build their academic skills before transferring
Not sure where they want to transfer
Want to complete general education courses before transferring

15. Transfer Hints Work closely with four-year destination
Understand major requirements
Use Ohio Board of Regents Transfer and Articulation Guide (TAGs) system

16. Questions?

17. Our Mission:
At Central Ohio Technical College (COTC) our mission is to meet the technical education and training needs of students and employers in the area.

18. Why COTC? 13:1 student to teacher ratio
Local campuses for easier access to courses
Over 400 full-time and
part-time faculty
The Gateway at COTC
Open admissions

19. Over 40 Programs Business & Information Technology
Engineering Technology
Health Care
Public Services & Safety
One Year Certificates

20. Outstanding Support Services
Disability Support Services
Math & Writing Labs
Personal Counseling
Resume and Interview Skills Assistance
Study Skills Development
Tutoring

21. $ Affordability $179/credit hour $2,148/semester $10,740/degree
Next Generation Challenge
$21 million scholarship campaign
48 new scholarships created $
Students can save, on average, 33% in tuition for a four-year degree when beginning at COTC.

22. Final Thoughts
Community colleges are one of Americas great social inventions a gateway to the future for first time students looking for an affordable college education, and for mid-career students looking to get ahead in the workplace.
-Barbara Mikulski

23. Admissions Representative
Thank you!
Kensey Balzer
Admissions Representative