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Two-year, four-year? Private, Public? What if I
want to switch schools?
Defining Types of Colleges
Ohio has a wide variety of non-profit colleges and universities to choose from, generally divided into categories such as Private or Public, Two-year or Four-year.
Private institutions are colleges and universities, whose governing boards are self-sustaining and may contain representatives from sponsoring organizations. Also called Independent Institutions, they cover the cost of education through sources such as tuition, alumni donations, donor gifts, as well as government supported scholarship and loan programs.
Public colleges and universities are organized by and their trustees are appointed by government entities. They receive a State subsidy (some may also receive a local government subsidy) in addition to tuition, private donations, government supported scholarship and loan programs, and other resources, to cover the cost of education.
Four-year colleges and universities can be either private or public. Generally speaking, four-year institutions are those that offer a curriculum leading to at least a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree in a specific major, field, or course of study.
Most of Ohio’s two-year colleges are public institutions. Nearly one-third of Ohio college students, representing all ages, attend
state-assisted community colleges,
technical colleges or university regional campuses. Some of
these students enter directly from high school. Others become employed
after graduating from high school and later enroll as part-time or full-time students.
Either way, by completing a two-year degree program, you can go to work in business, industry, or public service in a variety of occupations. Special transfer-of-credit agreements with four-year
colleges allow
many students to use the associate degree as a stepping-stone to a four-year
baccalaureate (bachelor’s) degree. Two-year colleges also offer adult continuing education programs, which may or may not lead to a degree.
Community Colleges
Ohio’s community colleges offer three types of
educational programs. First is the two-year university
parallel arts and sciences program leading to the Associate
of Art or Associate of Science degrees. These programs are
for those who plan to transfer to a four-year college.
Another type of program is the two-year, career-oriented
program in one of the agriculture, business, engineering,
allied health and public service technologies leading to an
Associate degree in Applied Science or Applied Business.
Finally, there also are community service and adult
continuing education programs, which may or may not lead to
a degree or certificate.
Technical Colleges
Technical colleges offer career-oriented two-year
programs leading to an Associate degree in Applied Science
or Applied Business. This theoretical and practical
instruction has been developed to meet
needs created by rapid technological
changes. Like community colleges, technical colleges also
have a community service component that includes business
and industry training and retraining as well as adult
continuing education programs and activities.
Regional Campuses
Ohio has a network of regional campuses affiliated with
state universities. Courses generally parallel or complement
those offered at the main campuses in the freshman and
sophomore years. Many of Ohio’s regional campuses also offer
complete bachelor's and graduate degree programs in a
variety of subject areas. Students also have the option of
requesting a switch to the main campuses to complete their
degrees. In addition, many regional campuses offer two-year
associate degrees in general studies and technical program
areas.
Transferring Among Colleges
Growing numbers of students are starting their education at a
community, technical, or regional campus and transferring to
another college or degree program during the course of their
college education. Students planning to transfer should make
plans well in advance. You should discuss your plans as early
as possible with academic and financial aid counselors at the
institution where you start your college education as well as
where you plan to finish it.
While many general courses may be applicable toward almost any
degree, some degree programs require certain specific and
sequenced courses. Consequently, transferring from one degree
program to another, and/or from one college to another,
frequently means the loss of some course
credits, which will no longer
count toward graduation. Generally speaking, colleges will
accept credits taken in courses which are parallel to those
offered in their own programs.
A core of general education courses has been identified
by many of Ohio’s 2-year community and technical
colleges. Courses
that are transferable from one college to another
may include English,
mathematics, fine arts, humanities, social/behavioral science
and/or natural/physical science. The Transfer Module allows for transfer of
credits among public colleges and participating private
four-year colleges. Contact the college to which you plan to
transfer for information. For additional transfer credit
information, access the
Course
Applicability System (CAS) at
www.transfer.org.
When making your transfer plans, be sure to check graduation
requirements and ask if comparative guides are available. Some
schools require two years of on-campus classes before granting
a degree; others require less. Most schools will not accept
transfer credit for courses with less than a “C”
grade. All transfer
applicants requesting financial aid will be required to submit
a financial aid transcript from their current college and any
others previously attended. The form should be obtained from
the new college.
It is important that you talk to both colleges before
you register for classes.
