How Much Money Community College Students Save by State
College is expensive, but if you want to cut costs, then one way to do it is through Community College. Tuition is usually cheaper than a public or private school, and you can always go for a couple of years and then transfer. Your savings will vary depending on where you live, although the student loan hero breaks down savings by state.
To get those numbers, Student Loan Hero calculated the cost of college credits in schools nationwide by comparing the cost of earning the first 60 credits for a 120 credit two-year public school degree to a four-year course. On average, they found that community college loans were 60% cheaper than a four-year public college. They reported:
Thus, a student who earned the first 60 credits in a two-year public school before transferring to a state college would pay an average of $ 11,377 less for a four-year degree. And if they pay for these loans with student loans , the difference in cost is even greater (an additional $ 3,573) thanks to the interest they charge.
Again, results vary from state to state, but here are the states where students save the most, as well as the average savings:
1. New Jersey: $ 20,993
2. Illinois: $ 20,707.
3. Pennsylvania: $ 18,653
4. California: $ 18,403.
5. Virginia: $ 17,706
6. Arizona: $ 16,698.
7. Michigan: $ 16,231
8. South Carolina: $ 16,153.
9. Vermont: $ 15,866
10. Delaware: $ 15,773
Use the interactive map below to see how savings stack up in your state, then navigate to the full Student Loan Hero publication below for more details on the study.
Study: Top 10 States where Community College Students Save the Most | Student loan hero