Public College Can Pave Your Way to Success

Back in the 1700s and early 1800s, there weren't many colleges in the United States. If you wanted to go to college and could afford it, you had to go to private college: Harvard, Yale, William and Mary and a select few other schools (most with religious affiliations) existed, but public universities didn't.

Then, in 1862, the Morrill Act (also known as the land grant college act) was passed and public state colleges as we know them were born. These colleges were created with the goal of making higher education available to all Americans, no matter what their occupation or social status. As a result, an excellent education became available to the masses. And yet, private colleges continued to be perceived as superior, and to some extent, this perception remains.

The fact is you can get at least as good an education at a public college as you can at a private one. Here are some of the wonderful things about your very own state school.

In-State Tuition Is a Bargain
Depending on what region of the US you are in, in-state tuition will cost 1/4 to 1/3 of what private college tuition would. For example, in the Southern US the average public college tuition for the 2004-05 school year was $4,143. Tuition at a private Southern college that same year was $17, 317. The combination of low cost and excellent value is the most obvious advantage of attending a state school but is by no means the only one.

Your State School Offers Enough Courses to Make Your Head Spin
Your public college's course catalog is likely to be as big as a phone book and chock-full of fascinating courses. Private schools often have limited course catalogs and offer only a traditional liberal arts education.  Some of them do not even offer Bachelor of Science degrees. State schools offer very specialized degree programs that will suit your interests and give you an education that is tailor-made for your intended career

A Job, a Family and a Public College Education Do Mix
At most private colleges, most of the students are between 18 and 22 years of age, attend school full time and don't have to juggle family and work responsibilities along with their education. Public colleges, on the other hand, are designed to allow you to get an education without quitting your job or leaving your family in the lurch. Public colleges offer many evening courses and make it easy to go to school part-time.

Public Colleges Are Well-Connected With Local Employers
Do you want to work for your state's government or a corporation that has a large presence in your home state? The best way to get your foot in the door with them is through your state's public university system. State schools work in close partnership with local government and industry, and your professors and department heads will often have a direct line to the heads of government agencies and corporate executives in their fields.

Public Colleges Campuses Have Great Facilities
As we all know, our lawmakers aren't shy about spending our tax dollars. Public college students can reap the benefits of this spending because state schools are often showplaces that have big stadiums, multiple gigantic libraries, performing arts centers and state-of-the-art student recreation centers with indoor Olympic pools. Will you find these amenities at your typical small private college? Probably not. But it comes standard at many public colleges.

So, if you're looking for a useful degree with a low price tag, the first place you should look is your public college. While you're there, don't forget to admire the campus amenities and read through that giant course catalog full of classes that work well with your schedule and your budget!