A two-year college offers you a degree after two years of full-time study. Four out of 10 graduating high school students start their college careers at community colleges.

Attending a community college has lots of advantages.

• Tuition and fees at public community colleges are less than half of those at public four-year colleges and about a tenth of those at private four-year colleges.

• The faculty at community colleges tends to focus more on teaching than research, which means you'll get more help. And classes are usually smaller , so you'll get more personal attention from your teachers.

• Community colleges are good places to explore fields that interest you before committing to a major. You'll save money by paying less than you would at a four-year school while exploring your options.

• Taking classes at a community college can help improve your GPA. Community colleges have an open-door admissions policy — all students are accepted regardless of past academic performance.

• Since many communities have community colleges, you can save money by living at home.

A four-year college usually offers a bachelor’s degree in the arts or sciences once you've completed a program of study. 

• Universities are generally large and offer many majors.

• State colleges and universities are usually less expensive than private colleges and universities. State colleges are usually large, as well.

• Private colleges are generally more expensive, but tend to be smaller and may offer more personal attention. There are many types of private colleges including women’s colleges, men’s colleges, religious colleges and military colleges.

Don’t exclude more expensive colleges from your list. They often have many grants and scholarships available.