EducationUSA, the U.S. government’s official resource for students interested in pursuing higher education opportunities in the United States, will host a Virtual Community College Fair on Tuesday, February 23, at 7:30PM. The fair will feature 10 of the United States’ top community colleges for international students.
The virtual event will provide an opportunity for high school students, parents, and school administrators to interact with community college admissions officers and learn how they can take advantage of this lesser known, more affordable path to a U.S. degree.
More than half of all U.S. graduates at some point attended a community college, a smaller school that generally offers two-year Associate’s Degree programs. For a number of reasons, they are now becoming increasingly popular for international students.
First, they cost a fraction of most four-year universities. The College Board estimates that during the 2019-2020 academic year, tuition and fees for community colleges were USD3,730 per year on average, compared to USD10,440 for public four-year schools and USD36,880 for private four-year schools. Second, they offer credits and guaranteed transfers to many of the top schools in the United States. Third, many students find the transition to studying and living abroad is much smoother when starting at a community college with a less rigorous study schedule. Finally, they have more flexible application requirements and timelines.
First Lady Jill Biden, who has been a teacher at Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA) for 12 years, has said that community colleges are “one of America’s best-kept secrets.” NOVA will be at the fair and has guaranteed transfer agreements with dozens of top-notch U.S. universities.
Marga Dumlao, a Filipino graduate of NOVA, said “My two years at NOVA allowed me to build new bridges, open doors to new opportunities, and taught me so much more than I had ever expected. Those are memories I’ll cherish as long as I live.”
Interested students, parents, counselors, and administrators can find out more information and register here: bit.ly/EdUSA-CCFairReg.
EducationUSA provides free advising services to prospective international students in more than 170 countries, and offers student resources and tools to navigate the Five Steps to U.S. Study: researching schools, identifying financing, completing the application, obtaining a student visa, and preparing for departure. There are more than 4,500 accredited higher education institutions in the United States, and an EducationUSA adviser can help students define their priorities to narrow their options and plan their college careers. EducationUSA does not offer scholarships but can assist students in identifying scholarship and financial assistance opportunities.
You can also find more information about EducationUSA on Facebook at www.facebook.com/educationusa.philippines, on Instagram at @educationusa.philippines, and on Twitter at @EducationUSA_PH.
