Why College? Grow Ideas. ontariocolleges.ca Why Choose College? We think it’s because you have a goal you want to achieve. Because you don’t want an education that’s one-size-fits-all. Because you want the freedom to grow and explore, but to also develop first-class skills that will lead you into a successful career. Ontario’s colleges make sense for all these reasons. And for so many others. Small Class Sizes With class sizes that average around 30, rather than 130 (or more), you’ll have the opportunity to engage in the classroom, not just listen and take notes. You’re free to ask questions, share thoughts and ideas and collaborate with your classmates and instructors, challenging yourself and others on every topic that is covered. Widespread Locations Ontario’s colleges offer over 130 campuses across the province, giving you the option to choose not only what you study but also where you study. Diverse Program Choices One-year certificate programs that help you build skills and get working fast. Two and three-year diploma programs that prepare you for the career you’ve dreamed about. Graduate certificate programs that build on the education you already have. 170 degree programs that are recognized alongside university degree programs, but that also give the practical experience so strongly valued by employers. Ontario’s colleges offer them all, for wherever you want your education to take you. And, with over 600 transfer agreement pathways – creating more than 35,000 transfer opportunities that recognize your existing credits1 – you don’t have to stick with just one of them. Affordable Tuition You don’t have to graduate with a mountain of debt. College programs have significantly lower tuition costs than other postsecondary options, and get you into the workforce faster, so you can be earning money rather than spending it. There are also thousands of dollars available each year through scholarships, bursaries and grants, which can help lower costs even further. Ontario Council on Articulation and Transfer, November 21, 2013: “Credit transfer saves Ontario’s postsecondary students time and money www.oncat.ca/?page=news_131120 1 Support Services Colleges offer a variety of resources and support systems that help students thrive and succeed. Learning support, disability services, career guidance, job search workshops, Aboriginal services, mental health and wellness tips and strategies, international student advising and child care are just a sample of what’s available, but you can contact each college directly about how they can help meet your needs. Real-World Experience - Before You Graduate College programs are known for blending academic learning with handson training. Led by instructors with professional experience, you’ll apply the skills you learn in class to real-world projects, giving you valuable experience before you graduate. You’ll also benefit from industry partnerships and professional relationships that will not only help you land co-op, internship and work placement opportunities but can also lead to jobs after graduation. College is for Everyone • 57% of college applicants don’t come directly from high school • Over 7% have a university degree • 12% use Special Needs / Disability Services • Nearly 33% have parents who did not have postsecondary education • Over 40,000 college students are 25 years or older • More than 21,000 international students are studying in Ontario’s public colleges (Statistics taken from 2013 / 2014 applicant data for Ontario’s public colleges) College Grads Succeed • 83% of college graduates found employment within six months of graduation1 • 92% of employers are very satisfied or satisfied with the college grads they hire1 1 http://collegesontario.org/outcomes/key-performance-indicators/2013-14_KPI_English.pdf www.ontariocolleges.ca tel: 519.763.4725 60 Corporate Court tel: 1.888.892.2228 Guelph, Ontario (toll-free in Canada) Canada TTY: 519.763.1102 N1G 5J3 Cette publication est disponible en français. Veuillez communiquer avec collegesdelontario.ca pour en obtenir une copie. ask-us@ontariocolleges.ca Follow us on Twitter www.twitter.com/ontariocolleges Find us on Facebook www.facebook.com/ontariocolleges.ca For service for the visually impaired, dial our toll-free number. 123375E