The NJ Stars program of community college attendance for two years then transfer, as a junior, to a state four-year college saves top students a lot of money, right? Wrong. While community college may be worthwhile for some, for top students eligible for NJ Stars, it entails three disadvantages rarely discussed: Cost, time and risk.
Under the NJ Stars program, top students can attend community college tuition-free and then transfer to a four-year public NJ college (if the student excels at community college, she can get a $3,500 per semester tuition scholarship, four semester maximum, under Stars II). Top students however, are also often able to gain admission to top private colleges that offer generous amounts of financial aid, right out of high school.
