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A college 2+2 program is offered through a partnership between a community college and a four-year school. You spend two years earning an associate’s degree at a community college and another two years at a university finishing the requirements for a bachelor’s degree.
It’s generally cheaper than your typical undergraduate degree, since community colleges tend to cost less. It’s also easier to get into and boost your GPA.
It could be particularly useful for international students who want to strengthen their language skills before attending a larger university. Students who are working a full-time job might also find more flexible hours through this program, since community colleges tend to offer more night courses.
There are a few types of college 2+2 programs to choose from depending on what you’re interested in studying and whether you want to attend class in person or online.
Single-major programs only cover one area of study, like education or engineering. These are typically offered through a particular school in a four-year college program, rather than the whole college.
Here are four single-major programs for earning a bachelor’s degree:
The University of Northern Iowa (UNI) allows you to earn an Associate of Arts (AA) degree at the Des Moines Area Community College in Ankeny or Carroll. After, you can finish the remaining two years at the UNI School of Continuing Education. Many courses have an online component, though you’ll meet at least once a week in person.
This program allows engineering undergraduates to complete the first two years of their program at UNC Asheville before transferring to North Carolina State. It’s not your traditional 2+2 program since UNC Asheville is a small liberal arts college — it’s designed to help students from the Asheville area stay near their families while adjusting to college life. You get to skip the degree requirements for regular UNC Asheville students and follow the North Carolina State engineering curriculum instead.
This university pairs up with Columbia State Community College, Motlow State Community College and Nashville State Community College to offer a variety of single-major 2+2 programs. You earn an Associate of Science (AS) in your field at the community college by following a preset 2+2 curriculum designed to prepare you for the remaining two years at Middle Tennessee State.
The Lansing School District has teamed up with Lansing Community College and Michigan State University to offer high school students a pathway into the university’s engineering program. Unlike other programs, this one starts your junior year of high school. Students are required to maintain a 3.0 GPA and attend at least 90% of courses and required events. After, you’re guaranteed admission to the 2+2 program with a full-tuition scholarship for up to six years.
Multi-major programs allow more flexibility — you don’t have to pick your major right away as long as you complete the prerequisites required to transfer to the four-year university. Some community colleges partner with several four-year universities — you often don’t need to choose the school until after you’ve attended the program.
Here are two multi-major programs that offer more flexibility than their single-major counterparts:
The majority of students that attend this New York community college end up transferring to a four-year university after completing an associate degree. It has transfer agreements with most State University of New York schools, as well as several private colleges across the country.
Through its dual admission program, students are guaranteed a seat at Keuka College’s Nursing BSN Program, Le Moyne College, SUNY Oswego, SUNY Morrisville, SUNY Potsdam and St. John Fisher College. Otherwise, you’ll have to apply for admission to any other schools you’re interested in transferring to.
This university has 2+2 agreements with several community colleges across Maryland for a wide range of majors — from chemistry to theater. You need to complete at least 30 credits before you can switch over to Towson, which accepts applications on a rolling basis. If you don’t see a community college you’re interested in on Towson’s website, reach out to find out if your credits can transfer.
Sometimes you don’t even need to leave the house to complete the first leg of your 2+2 program. Many universities such as Kansas State partner with community colleges that offer online degrees to complete an associate degree before moving to the university for the last two years of a bachelor’s program.
Online programs tend to be the most flexible — you can complete your courses in your own time, even if you’re taking care of family or traveling. However, with some schools, you might need to come in to take the final exam.
Though the application process will vary by program, you can generally expect to go through the following steps:
The transferring process varies depending on the program. Typically, you need to complete an application and send your transcripts to the new school. Talk to the new school’s office of admissions to learn more about how to transfer your credits.
From flexible schedules to lower tuition costs, here are a few perks of attending a 2+2 program:
From limited majors to fewer financial aid options, consider these potential drawbacks before applying to a 2+2 program:
Aside from attending a 2+2 program, here are a few more ways to cut down on college costs:
A 2+2 program can be a great way to save and ease into college life — especially if you want to improve your grades or language skills before attending a four-year program. But you won’t get the traditional college experience, and you might not be eligible for as many scholarships and grants when you enter the second leg of the program.
You can read more about your options to pay for school with our guide to student loans.
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