In Florida, Seminole State helps students get a bachelor’s degree without paying the price of one

“Go to college,” they said. “Get a bachelor’s degree,” they said.

From high school counselors to well-meaning parents, they just want the best for you. After all, unlike your parents’ warning that you could get stuck making a funny face forever, the benefits of a bachelor’s degree aren’t just folklore.

A recent study by the Bureau of Labor Statistics revealed that unemployment rates and levels of educational achievement share a direct correlation. Unemployment rates are lowest among the higher educated population and highest among the least educated population. Statistics show that those with higher levels of education had higher job security as well as higher median weekly earnings with each educational benchmark achieved.

The difference between categories showed a jump even when comparing an associate degree holder to a bachelor’s degree holder. Those who earned a bachelor’s degree showed an unemployment rate of only 2.2% and higher median weekly earnings of $1,198.

The College Board’s Education Pays study from 2017 found that a college education not only benefits your pocketbook but is also an indicator of healthier behaviors and greater civic involvement.

While the benefits of getting a bachelor’s degree may be measured and clear, there’s one thing that is often left out of the discussion: the fact that getting a four-year college degree is much easier said than done. It’s not only difficult to get admitted; it also requires a significant investment of money. A single year of tuition at a four-year university can range from $9,410 per year for students attending in-state public universities to $32,410 for those enrolled in private colleges. Additionally, full-time students are usually expected to take a minimum of 12 credits, or about four classes, per semester. When you include study time, the commitment amounts to a minimum of 36 hours per week.

Yet there are still educational institutions that are committed to helping students attain a bachelor’s degree on their terms. At the forefront of this effort are public colleges that not only offer discounted tuition to state residents but also operate robust transfer programs. These initiatives consist of a partnership between a state college and a four-year university; students spend two years at the state college and, as long as they maintain a benchmark GPA, are guaranteed admission as a transfer to the local four-year university.

One of the schools that best understands the challenges of attending a four-year university is Seminole State College of Florida. With seven bachelor’s degree programs, as well as partnership programs with both the University of Central Florida (UCF) and the University of Florida Online (UF Online), there’s a path to a bachelor’s degree for every student and circumstance.

Depending on what you’re interested in studying, Seminole State’s bachelor’s degree programs may offer an affordable and accessible solution. Students can pursue a Bachelor of Science (BS) in select high-demand careers including nursing, construction, information system technology and more. Seminole State offers students small class sizes, personalized instruction and flexible class schedules. Best of all, at an average of $3,131 per year, the annual cost of tuition and fees at Seminole State is less than half that charged by other state universities, including UF Online, FSU and UCF.

For those looking to pursue other areas of study, Seminole State’s associate degrees and university transfer programs offer students two pathways to four-year universities: UF Online and DirectConnect™ to UCF. To make sure all Florida residents have the opportunity and resources needed to obtain a bachelor’s degree, Seminole State has partnered with UF Online. Once students complete their associate degree at Seminole State, they can transfer to the University of Florida’s fully online baccalaureate degree program. Since the program is entirely online, it is designed particularly for individuals who are juggling their studies with other commitments, including careers and children. It is also an economic choice, since, at $3,876 per year, UF Online costs almost 40% less in yearly tuition and fees than in-person coursework at the university.

Students also have the opportunity to transfer to UCF through DirectConnect™, a partnership that provides guaranteed entry to all students and alumni who first obtain associate degrees through Seminole State. Those enrolled in the transfer program enjoy accelerated admission to UCF, transfer assistance and advice and the convenience of studying close to home at UCF’s regional Sanford/Lake Mary campus in Central Florida. Though students will be subject to standard in-state tuition rates once transferred, spending two years at Seminole State significantly lowers the overall cost of the four-year degree: because each credit earned at Seminole State costs an average of $119 and each credit at UCF an average of $212, students can save more than 20% of the cost of a degree by transferring.

Sure, obtaining a bachelor’s degree might not be quite as straightforward as they say it is. However, with Seminole State’s bachelor’s degree and transfer programs, getting a four-year degree doesn’t have to mean taking out loans, moving away from home or attending class full time. Seminole State’s programs meet students where they’re at—and ensure that every individual who comes through their doors has the resources to obtain the education they want.

Want to learn more about Seminole State’s bachelor’s degree programs? Check out the bachelor’s degrees, UF Online and DirectConnect™ to UCF.