Why Community College Athletics?
By Dave Gonyea

 I receive a number of questions every year regarding the differences between playing sports at a two-year college vs. a four-year college. 

 I usually reply with two powerful words:  Cost and Opportunity.

 Student athletes have a variety of schools to pick from today.  Some prefer a more traditional, prestigious education offered by Bates, Bowdoin, and Colby.  Of course, the high academic requirements and the $44,000 price tag limit who can attend those schools. 

 Other private schools such as St Josephs College and the University of New England are also an option.  While not as expensive or competitive as the colleges mentioned above, the cost is still quite high—certainly higher than the State University System.   

The University of Maine competes in Division I and offers athletic scholarships, which limits the number of Maine students who can participate. 

 Other U Maine System campuses such as USM, UMF, UMFK, all participate in Division III or the NAIA and present greater opportunities for Maine students.  They offer a variety of athletic programs in different campus settings with varied student populations. 

 Now we have the Maine Community Colleges.  The one key area that separates the community colleges from other schools is cost.  Simply put, Maine residents can afford to attend community college.  The tuition rate of $80 per credit hour is the lowest in the State.  A student can attend a community college (such as Central Maine Community College!!) pay a total of approximately $6,000, and graduate with an associate’s degree that can be transferred to almost any four-year college or university in the country.   

In terms of athletics, many students who might not have the opportunity to participate at four-year colleges can do so at a community college.  And this is despite the fact that many outstanding athletes attend community colleges.  The notion that all the better athletes attend four- year r colleges and universities is a myth that I am confronted with all the time.  In fact, CMCC and our sister college in South Portland, SMCC, both compete with more four-year schools than two-year schools.  In fact, our teams actually have a much better record against those schools than they do against us!   

Most people I share this information with are very surprised to hear it.  However, after all my years at CMCC I am not surprised but always amazed at the levels of talent and commitment our players demonstrate.  Many student athletes who cannot afford or who are not recruited by a four-year college can find a home at a Maine Community College!   

Here is the bottom line:  Do yourself a favor and check out the Maine Community Colleges before you make a decision. Between the cost and the opportunity, it could be the right fit for you.