The first advantage is location. Every area in the state is served by a community college. These locations often allow a student to stay at home or close to home as they complete their first two years of college. The second advantage is cost. One year at a community college is less that half the cost of a four-year public college and less than one quarter the cost of a private university.
All community colleges offer full financial aid programs to eligible students.
The third advantage is quality of instruction. Most community college classes are small, often averaging 25 students per class. This means more individual interaction with faculty and can improve the quality of the education received. A final advantage is that community college credits are easy to transfer if students plan to pursue a four-year degree. In Washington, students with an associates degree from a community college are allowed direct transfer to any public or private university, at junior status.