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One of the most important decisions a graduating high school senior has to make is where to attend college. This decision doesn't just affect them academically — it also impacts their professional careers, social lives and financial well-being. So, no pressure.
If you or someone you know is currently in the throes of deciding where to go to school, here's a suggestion: Consider a two-year institution. Though they're often overlooked for their four-year counterparts, a two-year college might be one of the best choices a student can make to set them up for future success.
"Though four-year colleges may get all the media hype, don't buy into it mindlessly unless you have clear aspirations set and know that attending one will help you achieve those goals," CollegeStats.org states. "Many high school graduates opt to go to a two-year college first because it's cheaper, quicker, and highly vocational."
The end goal of education is to prepare you for the road ahead. With that in mind, two-year colleges are proving to be a viable and valuable option. Here's why.
Check the success rate
Before attending any college, it's a good idea to evaluate the institution's ability to help students succeed. Student success at two-year institutions is measured by their ability to help their students graduate (completion) or successfully assist them in transferring to another institution. The combination of the institution's completion rate, plus its successful transfer rate constitutes the overall success rate.
In Utah, Snow College is a good example of a thriving two-year institution. Snow's success rate is 85% when you combine the graduation rate (43%) and the transfer rate (42%). According to the National Center for Education Statistics, the national average for two-year schools is 48% (34% and 14%, respectively). Clearly, Snow College must be doing something right.
Statistically more likely to succeed
This might surprise you, but statistically speaking, Snow College attendees are more likely to be successful than students who start out at a four-year college. In January 2020, an unsolicited report by the Chronicle of Higher Education ranked Snow College No. 1 in the nation for student success. At the time, it was the only state institution ranked on the list.
And the Chronicle of Higher Education isn't the only publication to recognize the school's achievements. The 2022 U.S. News and World Report college rankings placed Snow No. 7 on the list of public colleges in the West region. Including private colleges, it ranked 28th overall in the West.
You'll save more money, too
Money may not be your main motivating factor for deciding where to go to college — but it's an important thing to keep in mind. After all, U.S. News reports that the average student loan debt has been on the rise and currently hovers near $30,000. Bankrate says it can take up to 30 years or longer to pay off student loans.
Even if you have your heart set on attending a four-year college, there could be a significant financial benefit to starting off at a two-year college. Snow College, which has the reputation of being one of the most affordable colleges in Utah, has a handy online calculator that can compute your savings. Since their tuition and fees are about half of what you'd pay at other Utah universities, this can add up over two years.
For example, suppose you want to go to Utah State to complete your bachelor's degree, but you start your first two years at Snow. According to the online calculator, this will save you $17,968. And if that sounds like a lot, the calculator shows that attending Snow before transferring to the University of Utah can save you a whopping $42,140.
You gain valuable real-world experience
Perhaps most important of all, places like Snow College give you actual experience for your future career. Not only do you have access to over 90 programs, but you also have the opportunity to participate in Optional Practical Training (OPT) to learn skills on the job.
A meaningful career starts with a meaningful education — and a meaningful education doesn't have to be costly or hard to achieve. Visit snow.edu to see why this two-year institution might just be the right fit.
Want to test your knowledge about Snow College? Take the quiz below for a chance to win a $50 gas card from Maverik.
