5 Reasons To Attend York College
5 Reasons to Attend York College
June 09, 2022Trying to decide which schools are worth your time and energy to research is hard. Trying to narrow down your top choices is even harder. We’re not going to lie—there are some pretty amazing schools out there, but it’s also true that York College offers a high-quality educational experience, fantastic campus life opportunities, and much more! Whether you’re just starting your college search or you’re trying to make your final decision about where to attend school, here are the top 5 reasons why you should choose York College.
1. York provides an affordable and accessible education
What makes a York College education such an affordable option? Consider this: You’ve been accepted to School A and School B and you just received your financial aid packages. You’ve received the top merit scholarship for both schools. (Congratulations!)
School A offers you a merit scholarship worth $31,000 per year, while School B also offers you their scholarship of $11,000 per year. School A sounds like the better deal, right? Not so fast! Let’s do the math:
School A has a yearly tuition rate of $45,000 a year with a total yearly cost of $60,000, once you add in housing, dining, and other fees. School B’s yearly tuition is $21,000 with a total cost of $36,000. After subtracting the merit scholarships you earned from each school, you’re left with a total out-of-pocket cost of almost $29,000 for School A and $24,000 for School B.
So, while School A’s scholarship looks more inviting, the bottom line shows that School B is actually more affordable to attend, despite offering a smaller merit award. Spoiler alert: York College is School B. At YCP, our tuition is thousands of dollars less than other private institutions. And on top of the merit scholarships awarded to 99 percent of admitted students, you have the opportunity to apply for other numerous competitive scholarships to offset costs even further. No wonder York is considered a “best buy!”
2. Location, location, location
Location is key. Whether you’re looking for internships or planning a weekend adventure with friends, York College is nicely situated between multiple major cities with tons of opportunities to take advantage of. With just a one-hour drive to Baltimore, two-hour drive to Washington D.C. and 2.5-hour drive to Philadelphia, York College students can immerse themselves in everything these areas have to offer. If that isn’t enough, the City of York is home to numerous alumni-owned businesses looking to hire York College students for internships and full-time positions after graduation. While on campus, catch a shuttle and discover the beauty of Downtown York. Grab lunch at Central Market, take a walk on the rail trail, or catch a York Revolution game. The possibilities are endless!
3. Top-notch academic programs and faculty
With 70+ majors and expert faculty, York College is fully equipped to set you up for success from day one. No matter which field you’re looking to enter after graduation, you’re guaranteed to find a program that fits your goals. And did we mention that YCP was selected as a 2022-23 College of Distinction for our Business, Education, Engineering, and Nursing programs? It’s easy to see that our programs speak for themselves.
Whether you settle into a program during your first semester or take some time to find your path, our faculty are ready to help you hit the ground running. YCP has 176 full-time faculty members, with 91 percent holding the highest degree in their field. But what makes our faculty stand out from professors at other schools? We’re glad you asked! York College’s faculty have the ability to bring real-world perspectives and experiences into the classroom in a way that isn’t standard at other schools. Our professors have previous work experience in the field they teach, or continue to work in the field while teaching. At York, our professors actually practice what they preach.
Ultimately, when you pair our faculty and programs with our state-of-the-art facilities and access to project-based learning opportunities, you’re guaranteed to get a student that’s built for success when they finish their time at YCP.
4. We keep the traditions going
There is nothing greater than experiencing the excitement that surrounds a long-standing tradition on a college campus. Luckily, York College has a tradition or two of our own, and they never fail to get our student body eager and involved.
Fall Fest. Our Fall Fest and Homecoming Weekend is one of our most popular traditions on campus! Friends, family, and alumni are invited to pay YCP a weekend visit for a variety of activities, including a trip downtown for First Friday, a Fall Festival celebration, and the annual YCP 5k and Fun Run.
Spring Concert. Completely organized by our Student Activities Board, YCP students anxiously wait all year for the announcement of the Spring Concert headliner. Past performers have included 21 Savage, Panic at the Disco, Sam Hunt, and Steve Aoki. Grab your friends and check out the show of a lifetime, right in your backyard.
Cardboard Boat Regatta. Grab a team and put your boat-building skills to the test. Our annual Cardboard Boat Regatta is held in the Grumbacher Sport and Fitness Center and brings students from a number of different majors and student organizations together for an exciting competition. Watch out though! You’ll need to work hard to outbuild our Engineering majors…
Old Spart. Your entire YCP career wraps up with our students’ favorite tradition. Signing Old Spart after graduation is your way to leave a mark on the College before heading out into the world. Repainted at the end of every semester, you’ll add your name to the same rock as thousands of other Spartan alumni.
5. We offer competition at every level
Staying active is easy at York College. Whether you join one of our 23 NCAA varsity athletic teams, 16 club sports, or just take advantage of our large-scale rock wall, there is something for everybody in the Grumbacher Sport and Fitness center. Between just our club sports and recreation programs, we have over 460 students staying active!
We understand that the time required of varsity student-athletes isn’t for everyone. Many students want the competition of varsity sports without all the commitments that come along with it. That’s why we’ve set up our intramurals and club sports to give students the competition and team environment of college athletics without the long-term responsibilities. Our club sports have the opportunity to compete against other schools and at national tournaments. Don’t believe us? Our women’s rugby club just finished 4th at the Small College 7s National Championship in Pittsburgh! (Yeah, we think that’s pretty cool too.)
So, are you ready to commit to York yet? Whether you’re prepared to become part of a nationally recognized academic program or you just want that coveted intramural champion t-shirt, you’re guaranteed to find exactly what you’re looking for when you come to YCP. Pay us a visit or learn more about the next steps you can take to become part of the Spartan family today!
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