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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Top community colleges in United States open doors to Filipino students

Top community colleges in United States open doors to Filipino students

Published Feb 19, 2021 05:18 pm

The United States government is now opening its doors to qualified Filipino students who want to pursue higher education in top community colleges in the US.

EducationUSA will host a Virtual Community College Fair on Tuesday, February 23, at 7:30 p.m. that will feature 10 of the United States’ top community colleges for international students.

EducationUSA is a global network of more than 400 advising centers supported by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs at the U.S. Department of State.

The US Embassy in Manila said the virtual event will provide an opportunity for high school students, parents, and school administrators to interact with community college admissions officers and learn how they can take advantage of this lesser-known, more affordable path to a U.S. degree.

Community college is a smaller school that generally offers two-year Associate’s Degree programs, now becoming increasingly popular for international students. It was learned that more than half of all US graduates at some point attended a community college. 

Comparatively, community colleges cost a fraction of most four-year universities. During the 2019-2020 academic year, tuition and fees for community colleges were $3,730 per year on average, compared to $10,440 for public four-year schools and $36,880 for private four-year schools.  

Also, community colleges offer credits and guaranteed transfers to many of the top schools in the United States.  Many students find the transition to studying and living abroad much smoother when starting at community college and with a less rigorous study schedule. Moreso, they have more flexible application requirements and timelines.

Even First Lady Jill Biden, who has been a teacher at Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA) for 12 years, has noted the significance of community colleges as “one of America’s best-kept secrets.”

NOVA will be at the fair and has guaranteed transfer agreements with dozens of top-notch US universities.

Marga Dumlao, a Filipino graduate of NOVA, shared her experiences of being able to access the US education system. “My two years at NOVA allowed me to build new bridges, open doors to new opportunities, and taught me so much more than I had ever expected. Those are memories I’ll cherish as long as I live.”

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