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The cost of attending a university has continued to rise sharply over the past two decades. According to a recent U.S. News & World Report article, attending college now costs 40% more than it did 20 years ago — and that's adjusted for inflation. Ouch.
This leaves prospective college students to engage in a dance of complex financial gymnastics. Many rely on a mix of financial aid, scholarships, in-state tuition costs, help from family members, and part-time jobs.
What if it didn't have to be so hard? There are opportunities available for a great quality higher education at two-year schools like Snow College.
Two-year schools: lower cost, more flexibility
Community colleges are a cost-effective option that allows students to pursue their general education requirements or an associate degree at a fraction of the cost, reducing the overall financial burden of higher education.
In a December 2023 article from GoBankingRates.com, Snow College was named the most affordable college in Utah. For the 2022-2023 school year, the cost of in-state tuition and fees totaled $4,180. Once you add in room and board, an average year at Snow will run $9,230 — roughly half of what a student would pay at other universities in Utah.
In fact, Snow College ranked third lowest on the list, making it one of the most affordable educational institutions in the entire country. You can compare costs to different universities in Utah by using Snow's College Savings Calculator. And 3 out of 4 students at Snow College have received financial aid, making it an even more affordable option.
While saving money is a top reason that many students go the two-year school route, there are so many other benefits. Flexibility is huge. Two-year schools tend to offer a wide array of class schedules, including online courses. This flexibility accommodates students with work or family commitments, allowing them to pursue education without sacrificing other responsibilities.
Learning for the real world
Snow College (and many other community colleges) offers what is known as competency-based education (CBE). With competency-based education, students are measured on how well they know the material rather than how much time is spent in class or lectures. In other words, it's about what you know versus how many — or how few — hours you spent learning it.
Competency-based education courses contain the same assignments and quizzes as the regular online version of the class. The difference is that in a competency-based class, most of those lessons and activities are optional and ungraded. You will complete as many (or few) as you need to learn the material. When a student is ready to take the assessment, a score of 80% or higher means they can move on to the next section. If you score below 80%, you will need to review the material before retaking the assessment.
Competency-based education courses allow students to utilize feedback and revision to fully understand the material before moving on to another topic or skill.
Enter the workforce sooner and with less debt
Some students aren't so sure what they want to study. Community colleges are great for that, because they allow you to complete general education classes for a lower cost while you decide what to study. On the other hand, some students know exactly what field they want to get into and want to start as soon as possible!
A two-year school allows you to complete the necessary education and training to enter the workforce in two years instead of four. You can achieve your goals, begin your career, and start earning a salary in a much shorter time frame.
However, soon after you begin your career, the dreaded student loan payments begin. According to Forbes' most recent numbers from 2024, the national average balance of federal student loan borrowers is $35,210. The high amounts of student debt have even become a major issue on the national political stage recently.
Not only does Snow College have lower tuition rates to start with, but it offers many options for financial aid and scholarships. A student or prospective student's first stop on the financial aid journey should be filling out a FAFSA, or Free Application for Federal Student Aid.
Colleges use the FAFSA form to determine how much financial aid you're eligible to receive, which could include grants, scholarships, work-study funds, and loans. The next step should be Snow's Scholarship Universe, which helps students apply for all available scholarships in one easy place.
Become a Snow College Badger
Discover your path in life at Snow College, where you can save money and set yourself up for a successful future! In 2020, Snow College was ranked No.1 in the nation by the Chronicle of Higher Education for student success. Opportunities are yours for the taking at Snow.
Because of the small student body of 5,100 students, each person receives personal attention from professors. Each year, hundreds of graduates successfully transfer to a 4-year university or enter the workforce with a quality education under their belt.
Take a comprehensive look at financial aid opportunities and then visit the Snow College website to apply.
