| Margo is a laid-off public sector worker who is going | | | | and transferring them to a 4-year college can save |
| back to school for a certificate in Medical Technology. | | | | thousands of tuition dollars.o Prerequisites for Master's |
| Juan still works in administration at a company, but has | | | | degrees. Students can take prerequisites or foundation |
| returned to college to pick up the AS degree in | | | | classes (if the course is lower division) and transfer to |
| Accounting. Brittany is a young adult taking English, | | | | a Master's degree program, also saving thousands of |
| math, and history and wants to transfer to her local | | | | tuition dollars.o Fun courses. Continuing Education |
| state university in the future. What do these people | | | | classes are ways to learn photography, French |
| have in common? They are all taking online classes at | | | | cooking and other enjoyable pastime skills and |
| their local community college. | | | | knowledge. |
| The growth rate of Community colleges across the | | | | Local community colleges probably offer some online |
| country has sky-rocketed. Enrollment numbers are up | | | | classes and even a few online degrees. However, |
| from 15 - 30% over last year's numbers. On-site | | | | there are several community colleges that offer many |
| classes are full and the numbers of online or distance | | | | classes, many certificates and several degrees online. |
| learning classes are increasing to keep up with the | | | | Some online community colleges with hundreds of |
| growth. A few community colleges boast that | | | | online classes are: Foothill College Global Access (CA), |
| students are taking classes in some format 24/7 | | | | Rio Salado College (AZ) and North Seattle CC's Virtual |
| (online, on-campus or hybrid) | | | | College (OR). The in-state costs are usually the same |
| There are good reasons why community colleges are | | | | as on-campus (perhaps with a cybercampus fee). |
| so popular.o Adult seeking Career Change. Laid-off | | | | Out-of-state students will find reasonable tuition rates, |
| auto workers can gain certificates in a technical field. | | | | as well. |
| Office professionals can pick up a degree in a | | | | Online classes at Community Colleges offer many |
| lucrative area such as accounting or nursing. Technical | | | | options for the laid-off worker, working professional or |
| professionals can get teaching credentials.o General | | | | young adult to gain skills, knowledge, certificates or an |
| Education aids in transfer to 4-year schools. All 4-year | | | | associate degree in an inexpensive and effective |
| degrees require English, math, humanities, social | | | | format. |
| sciences and natural sciences. Taking these classes | | | | |