When people think of attending Kirkwood Community College, many think of getting an associate’s degree in two years as a full-time student. Kirkwood describes a full-time student as someone taking 12 or more credit hours per semester (which is about four classes) while a part-time student is someone who takes less than that. Many may think that most students are full-time. However, this is incorrect.
According to Kirkwood, in 2014, 35.8% of students were full-time while 64.2% were part-time, and the percentage of part-time students has only grown since then, reaching 67.6% in 2024. The advantages of being a part-time student include work-life balance, mental health and stability in clubs.
Many students work during college because they either have to use that money to pay for classes or pay for rent and food, which can be more expensive than the classes themselves. Taking a full load of classes and working can cause an eventual burnout or overload, leading to a decrease in study time and an increase in stress and fatigue. This can cause grades to lower on assignments or even assignments being missed entirely.
Taking it slow and doing a couple of classes every semester instead of five would allow students to not only learn the material better, since they would have more brain capacity to focus on two subjects instead of four but also allow themselves to relax more, since they overall have less work to do.
With all that extra time to relax, students can participate in Kirkwood’s clubs and organizations, and since they are part-time instead of full-time student, they are more likely to spend more than two years in that club than others. This means they can build stronger relationships with the advisor(s) of the club and provide continuity and stability for the club for multiple years.
They have knowledge that newcomers do not have in how the club operates, and since they are a peer, new members might feel more comfortable talking to them for help instead of the advisor(s).
Because they are there for longer, they can start taking on leadership roles, developing them as a person and preparing them for their future career.
The biggest cost with being a part-time student is the financial cost. Over the entire degree, being a part-time student can be more costly than a full-time student.
From transportation to food and housing to the $50 technology fee students are charged every semester, the price tag for being a part-time student goes up. Kirkwood said that 2025-’26 Cost of Attendance for At Home Full-time is $18,253, while At Home Part-time is $15,159.
Work-life balance, mental health and continuity in clubs are reasons why some students should consider attending college part-time. However, the financial downside may dissuade a few people, especially if they cannot afford it. There are many paths to success, and it is up to each individual to choose the best option for their life.
Categories: Opinion, Staff Editorials
