[quote=AN]How much can you truly save vs how much lost income when you don’t graduate in 4 years? Especially when you go to a UC or a CSU. UCSD tuition is $13,234/yr, if you go to JC, you’ll save on GE classes, and a couple math classes. But JC transfer usually take 5-6 years to graduate with the same degree vs 4. So, you’re saving $13-26k, but then if you get out and get a job for $40k, then your $13k-26k savings become negative saving of $14k-27k. This is assuming you go to a UC near home. That CSU cost number is about half of UC.[/quote]

I’m following you up until the point that the savings becomes negative with a $40K job. How does the eventual income differ between a CC-to-CSU/UC graduate vs. a four-year CSU/UC graduate?

When you graduate from a CSU or UC, your degree looks exactly the same, irrespective of whether or not you spent your first two years at a CC or the CSU/UC.

One more thing…most CC students also work (often full-time hours), which is why they usually take longer to graduate than the CSU/UC students. IMHO, this work experience is far more important than graduating one year earlier. In my experience, it was my work experience during the college years that opened all the doors, not the degree. I was already “in demand” — during a recession — with recruiters calling me with very lucrative offers by the time I graduated…all because of the reputation I had built up while working through college.