FAQ

Community colleges offer certificates, associate degrees, workforce training, university transfer pathways and, in some cases, bachelor’s degrees. Because public community colleges receive state and local support, tuition is generally lower than at universities or private institutions.

Private trade or career schools typically focus on training for a particular occupation. Programs may be completed quickly, but tuition can be higher and credits may not transfer to another institution. Before enrolling, review the school’s accreditation, total cost, graduation rates, job-placement information and whether other colleges will accept its credits.

Universities primarily offer bachelor’s and graduate degrees. Starting at a community college can allow students to complete lower-division coursework at a lower cost before transferring to a university.

Consider the subjects you want to study, the credential required for your career, tuition and fees, financial-aid opportunities, class sizes, location, student services and whether credits will transfer.

Before making a decision, compare each school’s programs and published costs. You may also want to tour the campus, speak with an advisor and meet faculty or students from the program you are considering.

Begin by considering your interests, abilities, values and the type of work environment you prefer. Career assessments, job-shadowing, internships, career fairs and conversations with people working in fields that interest you can help you explore your options.

Research the education or training required for each career, employment opportunities, typical working conditions, expected earnings and future job outlook. Cochise College advisors can help you connect your career goals with an appropriate degree or certificate program.

Visit Academic Advising and Career Services for assistance.

Certificates are focused programs designed to build skills for a particular occupation or career area. They generally require fewer credits than a degree.

Associate of Arts and Associate of Science degrees are commonly designed for university transfer. Associate of Applied Science degrees generally emphasize career preparation, although some AAS programs also have transfer opportunities.

Bachelor’s degrees include upper-division coursework and normally require approximately four years of full-time study in total. Cochise College offers associate degrees, certificates and select bachelor’s degrees. Requirements vary, so review the current Cochise College Catalog and speak with an advisor before selecting a program.

Registration opens before each fall, spring and summer term. Register as early as possible because popular courses and preferred class times may fill.

Students with fewer than 15 earned Cochise College credits must meet with an academic advisor before registering. Visit the registration page for current instructions, deadlines and links to the class schedule.

Cochise College uses a combination of transcripts, test scores, placement assessments and Directed Self Placement to help students select appropriate English, reading and mathematics courses.

Directed Self Placement allows you to review course expectations and select a course that aligns with your skills and experience. Some students or programs may have additional placement requirements. Visit the Directed Self Placement page or speak with an academic advisor for guidance.

Your program requirements are listed in the Cochise College Catalog. Degree maps may also provide a recommended sequence for completing courses.

An academic advisor can help you select a program, understand placement recommendations, develop an educational plan and choose courses that apply toward your credential. Students should review their plan regularly and meet with an advisor when changing majors, preparing to transfer or making other significant academic decisions.

Contact Accessibility Services as early as possible to discuss disability-related accommodations. Students may be asked to provide supporting documentation, and advance notice may be necessary to arrange certain services.

Visit the Accessibility Services page for information about requesting accommodations, available services and contact information.

A credit hour is a unit used to measure the instructional requirements of a course. Many courses are worth three or four credits, although the amount varies.

Courses with laboratories, clinical experiences, studios or other hands-on activities may meet for more hours than a lecture course with the same number of credits. The number of credits also helps determine tuition, enrollment status and progress toward completing a degree or certificate.

A common guideline is to plan for approximately two hours of work outside class each week for every credit hour. For example, a three-credit course may require approximately six hours of reading, assignments and studying outside scheduled class time.

The actual time will vary by course, subject, format and individual student. Accelerated and online courses may require students to complete the same amount of work within a shorter period.

Degree programs include courses required for your major as well as general education courses. General education develops broadly useful skills such as written and oral communication, quantitative reasoning, critical thinking and understanding different social, scientific and cultural perspectives.

Although you may not be equally interested in every required subject, each course contributes to the learning outcomes of your degree and may also be required for transfer or admission to a particular program.

The academic catalog contains official information about programs, degree and certificate requirements, course descriptions, academic policies, tuition, student services and graduation requirements.

Catalog requirements may change from year to year. The catalog that applies to you can depend on when you began your program, whether you remained continuously enrolled and whether you later selected a newer catalog. An academic advisor can help determine which requirements apply to your situation.

The academic catalog explains what courses and programs the college offers and identifies the requirements for completing a degree or certificate.

The class schedule shows which course sections are being offered during a particular term. It includes information such as dates, meeting times, locations, instructional methods, instructors and available seats.

A course listed in the catalog may not be offered every semester. Use both resources when planning your classes.

The number of credits required depends on your specific degree or certificate. Associate degrees commonly require approximately 60 or more credits, while certificates may require fewer and bachelor’s degrees require additional lower- and upper-division coursework.

Your completion time will depend on the program, course sequence, placement, number of credits taken each term, course availability and whether you successfully complete each requirement. Review your program in the catalog and work with an advisor to create a realistic completion plan.

A class dropped by the no-penalty add/drop deadline is generally removed from the student’s schedule and may qualify for an adjustment of tuition and fees according to the college’s published deadlines.

After that deadline, leaving a course may be treated as a withdrawal and a withdrawal grade may appear on the transcript. Dropping or withdrawing can affect financial aid, academic progress, program completion, veteran education benefits and other forms of assistance.

Speak with your instructor, academic advisor and Financial Aid before making the change. Do not simply stop attending. Visit the registration page and review the current tuition-liability and withdrawal deadlines.

Transferability depends on the course, your chosen university, your major and how the receiving institution applies the credit. A course may be accepted by a university but not necessarily satisfy a particular degree requirement. See our transfer programs page.

Plan your transfer early and work with a Cochise College advisor and an advisor at your intended university. Arizona students can also use AZTransfer to research course equivalencies and transfer pathways among Arizona public community colleges and universities.

The Arizona General Education Curriculum, commonly called the AGEC, is a block of lower-division general education coursework designed for students transferring within Arizona’s public higher-education system.

Different AGEC options support different academic pathways. Completing an AGEC can help satisfy lower-division general education requirements, but it does not guarantee admission to a university or admission to a competitive program. Students should select an AGEC and transfer degree with guidance from an academic advisor.

Identify your intended university and major as early as possible. Admission requirements and prerequisite courses can differ by institution and program.

Meet regularly with an academic advisor, follow an appropriate transfer degree map, maintain the required GPA and confirm application, transcript, financial-aid and scholarship deadlines with the receiving university. Whenever possible, verify how each planned course will apply to your intended bachelor’s degree before enrolling.

Tuition is generally charged according to the number of credits in which you enroll. Your total cost may also include course or program fees, books, supplies, transportation, housing, meals and personal expenses.

Rates and fees can change by academic year, residency classification and program. Aviation, nursing, laboratory and other specialized courses may have additional costs. Visit the Tuition and Fees page for current rates and estimated program costs.

Eligible students may receive grants, scholarships, loans, work-study or other educational assistance. Each type of aid has its own eligibility and enrollment requirements. Some awards may be available to eligible part-time students, while others require full-time enrollment.

Financial aid is not automatically awarded simply because a student submits an application. Students must complete all requested documentation, meet eligibility requirements and maintain satisfactory academic progress.

Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid at the official FAFSA website. Cochise College’s federal school code is 001072.

Submit the FAFSA as early as possible and monitor your MyCochise account, college email and financial-aid notifications for requests for additional information. A FAFSA summary or estimated eligibility is not the same as a final financial-aid offer.

Visit Financial Aid and Scholarships for current application information, deadlines and contact details.