Checking off the foundational courses

Attending a community college for two years allows you to complete foundational courses for a teacher preparation program while saving a significant amount of money. The tuition and fees at community colleges are normally much less than four-year colleges or universities. These cheaper costs allow you to save money and apply those savings to future tuition or living costs. Additionally, the lower costs mean you can reduce or even eliminate any student loans you need to borrow.

What does tuition and costs look like?

Kansas City has some great community colleges that can help start you on the path to becoming a teacher at affordable prices. Semester tuition and fee costs will be from $1,128 to $3,165 per semester for 12-course credits.

These amounts are before any kind of grants or scholarships, so your actual cost might be even less! Remember that tuition will be different at each community college. Tuition at a community college will also vary depending on where you live in the greater Kansas City region, as well as if you live in Missouri or Kansas state.

Kansas City, Missouri Area Community College Information and Costs

If you'd like to attend a community college in Missouri, you'll be choosing from one of the campuses that are part of the Metropolitan Community College (MCC) system. MCC is one college with five campuses located in different regions of Kansas City, Mo. In order to study the foundational courses that help you reach your goal of becoming a teacher, you should study at one of these four campuses: Blue River, Longview, Maple Woods and Penn Valley.

Information regarding the Teaching Curriculum Associate of Arts degree at MCC campuses can be here.

You can take classes at one of the Metropolitan Community College (MCC) campuses whether you live in Missouri or Kansas. However, tuition costs at MCC will vary depending on where you live in the Kansas City region. Tuition and fees at the Metropolitan Community College campuses can be found on their website: MCC Tuition and Fees.

Kansas City, Kansas Community College Information and Costs

If you'd like to attend a community college on the Kansas side of the border, you'll be choosing either Kansas City, Kansas Community College (KCKCC) or Johnson County Community College (JCCC). KCKCC does offer a teacher preparation program for students wishing to pursue a degree in elementary or secondary education. You can find out more about that program on their website here.

At JCCC, you would take core/general education courses as the foundation of your teacher education degree. Once you finish taking courses at either community college, you can transfer those courses to a four-year teacher preparation program. Many of our partner education program providers have agreements with both colleges.

You can take classes at KCKCC or JCCC whether you live in Kansas or Missouri. However, tuition costs at either community college will vary depending on where you live in the Kansas City region. Tuition and fees at Kansas City Kansas Community College can be found on their website: KCKCC Tuition and Fees. You can also find the tuition and fees for Johnson County Community College by looking at their website: JCCC Tuition and Fees. 

No dormitory costs

By attending a community college, you can also save money on living costs since you do not have to stay in a college or university dormitory. You can even continue to live at home if there is a community college close by. The money you save from living at home can be substantial.

Getting around Kansas City

As a community college student, you'll need to get from home to your classes. Fortunately, there is an inexpensive way to do that by using local transportation in the Kansas City area. You can save a lot of money by not driving a car. You can even study on the way to class! Check out RideKC to download the app you need. There are buses in the Kansas City area that make stops at community colleges in both Missouri and Kansas.

Courses that fit your schedule

Many college students have part-time or full-time jobs, as well as family responsibilities. Community colleges offer flexible class schedules with many classes meeting during the day, evening or even on weekends. Additionally, community colleges often offer multiple sections of the same class, so you can usually find a class time that fits your schedule. This flexibility is very important as you juggle classes, family and work.