I did community college while working. It took 6 years to get my associate of science this way, only to find out that my state engineering college would "accept

I did community college while working. It took 6 years to get my associate of science this way, only to find out that my state engineering college would "accept" the credits but I'd still have to enter as a freshman in their engineering department. Luckyily I have access to enough loans/savings now as an independent student to move to another state (if I'd been born here, with their $5,000/year tuition, I'd have graduated with an engineering degree by now...), but I really wish people would stop recommending community college for tech people. Some states just see it as another way to waste your time and make more money off you. If you're a transfer student, many colleges won't give you any institutional aid, either, which means you're limited to places you can afford on a $5,000 pell grant (if you can get one) and yearly stafford loan limits. I loved my cc profs, I just wish the four year colleges couldn't get away with so much snobbery/bs.