Estimated read time: 6-7 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
In case you were wondering, getting that college degree should still pay off in the long run.
In 2021, Georgetown's Center on Education and the Workforce found that workers with bachelor's degrees earned $1.2 million more than high school graduates over a lifetime. And even though people sometimes regret their choice of degree, a Federal Reserve survey found that only 9% of those who attended a public institution wish they hadn't gone to college.
The hard part is choosing where to go. If you've already decided to pursue a higher degree but you're still weighing your options, here are six things to consider before committing to a two- or four-year institution.
Affordability
One big factor in determining which college is right for you is affordability. Student Loan Hero reports that tuition is up 213% since millennials were born — but wages have risen just 67% since the 1970s. That makes finding an affordable school a must for students who don't want to spend the rest of their working lives swimming in debt.
In Utah, the most affordable school is Snow College, according to CollegeVine. Tuition for in-state students is about $1,898 per semester. Not only does this make Snow an attractive option for those looking to save money, but it also makes it possible to graduate debt-free.
Institution success rate
A school's graduation rate is another thing to consider when deciding where to spend your higher education years. Generally, higher graduation rates are a good sign but don't get too caught up on this one.
As Open Education Database points out, these numbers often don't tell the whole story. "More selective institutions typically report higher graduation rates. However, these schools are more likely to admit students from wealthier backgrounds, who generally graduate at a higher rate than other students," OEDb's website states.
This is particularly true for two-year public colleges where graduation rates are typically low.
"Many community colleges aim to prepare students to transfer to a four-year institution, which is a measure of student success; data from the U.S. Department of Education, however, don't capture whether such transfer students eventually graduate," the Chronicle of Higher Education reports.
Personal touch
There's also something to be said for a school where you don't feel lost in the crowd. According to a Scholastic survey, 9 of 10 teachers agree that there's a benefit to smaller class sizes when it comes to student learning. So, if you want your college experience to have more of a personal touch, you might want to pick a school with smaller class sizes.
Degree offerings
If you've already chosen a major, you'll want to make sure the institution you attend offers that degree. It doesn't hurt to review the faculty biographies and credentials as well. And if you haven't picked a major yet, a school that offers a variety of courses and degrees is your friend.
"Students who have not yet chosen a field of study should take into account which schools offer the most interdisciplinary opportunities and exploratory coursework," Christopher Rim writes for Forbes. "Programs that provide more freedom to learn in a variety of disciplines will help students discover their unique academic interests."
Of course, it is also important to make certain credits you earn will transfer easily in case you end up switching to another university.
Real-world experience
These days, there's a lot of debate about what's more important: a degree or actual work experience. Well, if you're lucky, you won't have to choose between the two. An affordable college that offers both a degree and real-world experiences will set you up for long-term success.
Flexible course options
Flexibility is a major selling point these days in education. According to a Digital Learning Pulse survey, 73% of students "somewhat" or "strongly" agreed that they wanted to take some fully online classes at some point. A college that offers a variety of both in-person and online classes allows you to create whatever kind of learning experience you'd prefer.
Snow College checks a lot of the boxes
With a high success rate, smaller class sizes, over 90 program options and the lowest tuition, housing and fees in Utah, Snow College is a great option to kickstart your higher education. Here are just a few reasons why you might want to consider becoming a Badger:
- The Chronicle for Higher Education named Snow College the No. 1 junior college in the nation for student success.
- TheBestSchools.org gave high remarks to Snow College not only for having the most affordable tuition in the state but for students' ability to show the necessary skills to enter the workforce after completing their degree.
- Snow College recently won six Best of State Awards.
- The average class size is 16 students.
- Credits earned at Snow transfer easily to other universities.
- Snow College is ranked No. 1 for safety in Utah.
- It's consistently ranked as one of the top educational institutions in the country.
Think Snow College could be right for you? Visit snow.edu for more information today!
Want to test your knowledge about Snow College? Take the quiz below for a chance to win a $50 gas card from Maverik.
