University of Phoenix’ plot to corner the cheap education market

[mwooldri]

2. A workaround - community colleges offer extra classes.

How this would work:

1) student goes through a 2 year degree.
2) once graduated student enrolls in a 4 year college.
3) student takes classes for bachelor's degree at the community college.
4) class credits transfer to this 4 year college.
5) student takes some courses by distance ed at 4 yr college.
6) student graduates from 4 year college with bachelor's.

Advantages are that community colleges are offering higher than associates degree classes @ a lower cost, with the 4 year college finishing up the final bits so the student ends up with a bachelors from a known university at near community college costs. Around these parts a lot of state universities offer "finish your degree" online classes at in-state rates, and if classes are missing they will accept substitute classes from a community college.

Disadvantages are that students don't have that one stop shop.

It already happens at high school level around here - gifted students enter an Early College program as part of High school and some classes they take are at freshman level. Means these students graduate high school and freshman year and tuition is in the cost of a public high school.