In a world where everything from gas to food to bills are soaring, a student looking for higher education has to be very careful of the tuition they can afford. In Alabama where education funding is decreasing and college tuition hikes are a common year thing, many students have a choice to attend a two year college, a four year public university, or a private university or college. Each type of college has its pros and its drawbacks.
Wallace Community College
As a former alumni, I can honestly express this college as being the most affordable of the above three. When I began back in 2007, the tuition was 90 dollars an hours plus student fees. One semester would roughly cost about $1,200 dollars with tuition and used books. In the 2011-2012 school year, the fees and tuition have risen to $126 ($1,512 for a full time student)which is still cheap compared to the four year schools in the area. Wallace Community College only gives out two year degrees; however, it is known as one of the best nursing schools in the area. This school can also boast two years programs such as respiratory therapy, radiology technology, cosmetology, computer science, and a new nuclear program. This school is a small college but has been known to have thousands of students from the surrounding areas to attend each semester. The only downside is it does not boast many student activities.
Troy University
This university can boast many alumni to include Mike Rivera, Bobby Bright, and DeMarcus Ware. In the 2011-2012, the tuition for a twelve hour semester is around $3,500 (this was my tuition there last semester). Whereas I attend a satellite campus, many students are also forced to add a dining hall fee of $200 each semester among other fees on the main campus. The main campus offers many degrees many which include degrees in Education, Biological Sciences, Military Science, Medical Technologist program, and Criminal Justice. With the “Sound of the South” band, a plethora of student activities, and the Troy Trojans, this college offers the true four year experience. In 2010, the college even began offering its first doctoral degree in nursing; however, many students chose to attend other universities for graduate study.
Huntingdon College
For those seeking a private and expensive college education, a person can look no further than to Huntingdon College of Montgomery, Alabama. The college tuition is a levelized plan of $21,500 for the year or $10,250 per semester. This figure does not include all the fees, room and board, books, or personal expenses the student will accrue as well. This college boasts around 1,100 hundred students per semester. This college can boast academic majors such as Sports Medicine, Art, Religion, Pre-Professional Studies, Teacher Education, and more. If a student can afford to pay the high tuition, then this college is the perfect private college for them. In Montgomery and on campus, the student can find many things to keep their four year college experience memorable. Originally, this was my first choice in college; however, I couldn’t afford it.