Starting at a community college and then transferring to a four year institution is a common strategy for students looking to earn a bachelor’s degree. In fact, 41 percent of all students get their education at community colleges. Northwest State Community College has many resources available to help students who are looking to transfer.
Ease into the College Experience
With dedicated faculty and smaller class sizes, community colleges are better at easing students into the college experience with more individualized attention.
Community college faculty tend to focus more on teaching and generally have less competing interests – like research projects, project funding or getting work published – that would distract from teaching introductory college courses. There’s also opportunity for more individualized attention to help struggling students directly and increasing their chances of success.
Many community college class sizes for general education and major preparation courses are smaller than those at four-year institutions. Smaller class sizes allow for better access to the professor and also more individualized attention, which again translates into better learning and potential student success. At NSCC, the student to faculty ratio is 21:1.
Save Money
Attending a community college can provide substantial savings. For starters, tuition and fees are often less than four-year institutions. Tuition at NSCC is $157.33 per credit hour, which is at least half the cost of four-year state colleges and universities. By starting and staying at a community college through completion of the associate degree, students may save enough to cover the tuition costs of their junior year at another college or university.
Another important, yet often overlooked benefit is scholarship opportunities. “Most people do not realize the scholarships that are available by starting at a community college,” said Robbin Wilcox, director of development at NSCC. When students start at a community college, they start building their college transcript, and their academic achievements there can lead to scholarship opportunities not just at the community college, but at a four-year institution as well. “Northwest State scholarships can open a lot of doors for students,” Wilcox continued. “If they decide to transfer on to a four-year college or university, they leave with a great education, but they aren’t burdened by a huge student loan debt.”
Complete the Basic Requirements
Bachelor programs require that students fulfill a set of general education courses, and community colleges are good places to earn these credits. NSCC students can take these courses and be guaranteed they will transfer to all four-year public institutions and many private institutions.
“We consistently review program curricula and work very closely with public and private colleges and universities, in- and out-of-state, to make sure our students are well prepared and their courses are transferable,” said Jason Rickenberg, transfer coordinator at NSCC.
At the direction of the Ohio Department of Higher Education, NSCC has several initiatives available for students interested in transferring to another Ohio public college. The Transfer Module consists of 40 semester credit hours which will transfer to any Ohio institution. Courses that are TAG approved (Transfer Assurance Guides) are guaranteed to transfer to any public college or university and apply directly to a student’s chosen major.
Transfer Options
NSCC offers dedicated assistance to help students with the transfer process. Students are provided with online transfer resources and information on transfer agreements, application deadlines, scholarships and more.
NSCC hosts weekly college and university visits along with a Transfer Fair. Students interested in taking their education to the next level can visit with representatives from schools and ask questions about academic programs, requirements for admission and campus life. Contact the NSCC Admissions Office for information on starting here and finishing anywhere!
Kyleigh Meeker-Blad
Kyleigh Meeker-Blad
Kyleigh Meeker-Blad knew she wanted a career in special education, having watched her father change so many young adult lives. His passion, love and support for people inspired her to pursue an appropriate degree path at Northwest State. “I knew that my heart was there, working one on one with students with special needs. I also knew that the experiences I would have in the classroom would prepare me for furthering my education if I chose that path,” Kyleigh remarked.
Kyleigh’s NSCC credits transferred “effortlessly” to Defiance College, where she continued her education, eventually earning both her Bachelor of Science, and Master of Arts in Education degrees. Kyleigh credits NSCC staff for helping her achieve her educational and professional goals. “My non-traditional yet extraordinary journey, my experiences, and my supporters are why I am an intervention specialist. Without the love and compassion from people like Mrs. Hofbauer and Mrs. Hershberger, along with my family, friends, faculty and staff, I may have walked away. They provided me with the support, the drive, and the knowledge to be successful.”
