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The costs of college -- weighing community vs. university. (Focus: Education).

Article Excerpt
A community or junior college is clearly the right route for a lot of students -- about one-third of all college graduates start out at one. And with the rising costs of everything from books to tuition to housing, community and junior colleges may be the best choice for those looking to save a little money.

Money is not the only deciding factor, however, and the choice of whether to start at a community or junior college or go straight to a university is a very individual one.

Dr. Maurice Eftink, assistant provost at the University of Mississippi, sees the diversity and comprehensiveness of the university-level academic experiences as the biggest difference with the community college.

"At the university level, students study and learn with other students and faculty from around the country, from around the globe, and of all races, religions and cultures," Eftink said. "This diversity of people complements the diversity of ideas shared at universities."

Students experience a number of opportunities for growth beyond the classroom at universities, including activities associated with student housing, clubs and social organizations, student government, athletic events and various productions by the university. And in the academic arena, faculty members who are active scholars in their fields teach students. Ole Miss, for example, provides a rich variety of liberal arts and professional degree offerings, both...