Applying for colleges can be stressful and difficult, with annual costs ranging from $28,650 to live on campus and attend CSU San Marcos to over $99,000 at a private school like the University of Southern California (USC). 

 These high prices can put students in debt, making it hard for them to buy a house or, car, and making it hard to get approved for credit cards as well as loans. Large Debts at a young age can have a lifelong impact. 

   An alternative to this expensive decision is a community college at Palomar. Susan Rodgers, who helps students with their dual enrollment at Palomar, encourages students to start at a Community College.

    “It is a fraction of the price of universities. You can do your freshman year and sophomore year at the community colleges, and regardless of how much money your family makes, the community has a ‘promise’ of free tuition.” Rodgers said. 

By doing this, you can save money as well as get the same education you would at a college. After your freshman and sophomore years, you can transfer to any university or college, and the entrance requirements for transfer students are typically easier to meet.  

 Rodgers calls students who go to community college “financially savvy” because the government has seen how many students end up in debt after attending a four-year school. 

Some students feel like attending a community college first does not look as good on their resume.

Rodgers feels that the stigma is starting to go away because people are realizing both colleges do the same thing, but one is much more expensive.

Community college also has degrees and certificates for students not planning to transfer to a university.

 In the Titan Center,  guidance technician  Jamie Brown can help and guide students to the right college for them.

 “A community college has over 200 degrees, and they also have certificates, so if someone is looking to work in a skilled trade, you can go and become a skilled tradesman, which is great, and those programs are from six months to a year and a half,” Brown said.

Community colleges also have sports teams, so students can continue their athletic careers, but not as competitively and for less money. 

Cheerleader Shelly Benisty plans to attend community college at Palomar.to get her general education done and then go to EMT school to hopefully become a paramedic metric

 “I wanted to stay in San Diego and not have to pay for living, so I can focus on working and my education. I also chose community college because I wanted to continue my cheer career, and they have a cheer team,” Benisty said.