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Community colleges offer students savings
By MARY ALYS CHERRY
Higher education costs may be skyrocketing like gas, eggs, bread and milk, but there are still bargains out there.
Many students in the Clear Creek School District are opting for the Exemplary-rated Clear Horizons Early College High School program in which a student can earn his two-year associate's degree at the same time he receives his high school diploma -- saving two years of school plus the cost of two years of college.
Also available are three area community colleges, where students can pick up two years of college much cheaper than at a four-year school.
For example, while tuition costs at the upper-level University of Houston-Clear Lake are about $3,400 for tuition, fees, books and transportation for 12 semester hours credit, one can attend one of the community colleges for considerably less and save money for their first two years of school.
For 12 hours at Alvin Community College, a district resident would spend about $1,100 for tuition, fees and books, plus an estimated $600 for transportation or about $1,700 in all. Out-of-district students would pay an additional $500.
San Jacinto College estimates that in-district students would pay about $1,350 in tuition, books, fees, etc. Toss in another $600 for transportation and the total is $1,850.
For out-of-district students, and that would include most of the Clear Lake area, the total for 12 semester hours would be about $2,400 including the estimated $600 for transportation.
College of the Mainland in Texas City appears to offer the best bargain, charging $455 for tuition and fees for 12 semester hours for in-district students and $863 for out-of-district students.
Add another $600 for transportation and $400 for books and the total is about $1,450 for in-district and $1,850 for out-of-district students.
Costs at all three community colleges are similar, so if one was truly bent on saving, travel distances, car pooling and other economies should be considered.
Many students in the Clear Creek School District are opting for the Exemplary-rated Clear Horizons Early College High School program in which a student can earn his two-year associate's degree at the same time he receives his high school diploma -- saving two years of school plus the cost of two years of college.
Also available are three area community colleges, where students can pick up two years of college much cheaper than at a four-year school.
For example, while tuition costs at the upper-level University of Houston-Clear Lake are about $3,400 for tuition, fees, books and transportation for 12 semester hours credit, one can attend one of the community colleges for considerably less and save money for their first two years of school.
For 12 hours at Alvin Community College, a district resident would spend about $1,100 for tuition, fees and books, plus an estimated $600 for transportation or about $1,700 in all. Out-of-district students would pay an additional $500.
San Jacinto College estimates that in-district students would pay about $1,350 in tuition, books, fees, etc. Toss in another $600 for transportation and the total is $1,850.
For out-of-district students, and that would include most of the Clear Lake area, the total for 12 semester hours would be about $2,400 including the estimated $600 for transportation.
College of the Mainland in Texas City appears to offer the best bargain, charging $455 for tuition and fees for 12 semester hours for in-district students and $863 for out-of-district students.
Add another $600 for transportation and $400 for books and the total is about $1,450 for in-district and $1,850 for out-of-district students.
Costs at all three community colleges are similar, so if one was truly bent on saving, travel distances, car pooling and other economies should be considered.
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