This was the case with the 22-year-old defendant Sofia Ladios, who studied forensic science and criminal justice at his college in the local community in Palatine, Il. Ladios says that after completing her associate, she plans to transfer to the University of Illinois Chicago to obtain a bachelor’s degree in biological sciences.
“It just brings you to another level and in my career path to criminal justice does not limit me to a particular position,” she says. “What I could get if I had a four -year bachelor’s degree is that I could test to become a sergeant, a potential lieutenant or commander of a particular police department.”
Part of this dream of gaining a bachelor’s degree, she said she comes from her family.
“As I have grown up, I have always been taught the value of pursuit of a four -year degree because both my parents have never graduated from college,” she says. “I still appreciate getting this bachelor’s degree higher than just sticking to an associate.”
The bigger part of the participants believe the college will be paid within five years
When asked about the financial payment of the pursuit of higher education, 58% of all respondents said that the college would pay off within five years after graduation, and nearly 90% said it would be paid in 10 years or less. For the respondents who spent time in college, this is, whether they took student loans.
“People believe they will receive a return on investment,” Brown says. “This is surprising to me in a good way.”
Part of this confidence seems to be coming from what is happening in the classrooms in the college: 72% of the respondents currently in the bachelor’s programs have said that the quality of education is “excellent” or “very good”, and 65% of those in associated programs say the same.
And just under half of the respondents who are currently in college, they said they are “very confident” that the college will teach them the skills associated with the work and help them find a job they love to do.
The associated degrees feel more affordable
Americans without a college degree seem to feel much more comfortable with the price of colleges in the community. Forty percent said two -year -old colleges charge a “fair price” while 18% said the same about four -year -old colleges.
Two-year programs, on average, cost significantly less than four-year degrees, and campuses in college in the Community are often located near where students live.
“This is a really practical choice that people make,” especially when it is brought in line with the local labor market, “says Bridget Graceli at the Adult and Experience Council.
Strickler works with adults who want to continue college for the first time or return to complete their degree.
“I think these programs are great and people make an intelligent choice when choosing this two -year program,” she says.
“It saves them time and money and that’s really the name of the game.”
