Sophia Gojcaj
Special to In Motion
Despite the fact that Daytona State College has not increased tuition in eight years, for most students it is getting more expensive each year. That’s why high school seniors should start thinking now about the best ways to attend college with less debt.
In 2017, the average college student in the United States graduated with a debt of around $37,000. That was 6 percent more than the previous year and students can bet it won’t be going down from here.
Starting out at Daytona State College is a perfect way to save money and experience many different career paths all while being close to home.
DSC is a state college that offers some bachelor degrees and many types of Associate of Science and Associate of Arts degrees. Most students that attend DSC go for an AA degree and then transfer to a four-year university. At DSC the Direct Connect agreement with the University of Central Florida allows for a seamless transfer. That might not be the case when students transfer to other universities, so it is always wise to check ahead to see what courses will transfer to their university of choice.
During her early college years, English and literature instructor Helena Hubl attended DSC before transferring to a four-year university. For Hubl, starting her college career at DSC not only helped save her money, but also enabled her to figure out what she wanted to pursue a career in without the pressure four-year universities put on students.
“Students who begin college at DSC have the benefit of transferring to a university with less debt. However, it depends on the student’s major as to whether those credits will transfer,” she said.
Generally, Hubl believes it is a good idea for students to start off at DSC and would recommend her children do the same as she did.
Four-year universities cost nearly three times more than community or state colleges. Tuition at Florida State University, for example, is $22,500 for one year. While tuition at DSC for one year is around $3,000. That’s a big difference saving students thousands of dollars, but financial peace of mind is priceless.
There are other benefits, rather than just saving money, in attending DSC. Students have the opportunity to stay close to home if they are not ready to go out on their own just yet, either financially or emotionally. Along with that, DSC now offers more night courses which helps students that need a flexible class schedule.
Rudy Chamble, a counselor of the Financial Aid Services at DSC, agrees that starting at DSC is beneficial and the most cost-efficient decision any student could make. Since DSC is often close to home, it is also beneficial that students do not have any housing expenses.
Chamble said, “It is important for students to start off small at DSC. Here at DSC, they have the ability to experience many different opportunities while paying less tuition than a four-year university. It would benefit them for a bigger and brighter future.”
Deciding between going to a four-year university and going to a state college is not always an easy decision. It is important that students take a look at all pros and cons of both options. But choosing DSC will not only help lower students’ future debt, but in the long run gives students the opportunity to explore many different career paths.
Helena Hubl, Professor at Daytona State College. Email: Helena_hubl@daytonastate.edu
Rudy Chamble, Financial Aid Counselor at Daytona State College. (386) 506-3380