The best Wyoming Community Colleges with Student Housing offer students an affordable place to live while they complete a degree program. With the rising cost of higher education, Gen Z students are looking for alternatives to the traditional four-year college education. One trend that caught our attention is the rise of community colleges that offer on-campus housing. Options vary from on-campus dormitories to partnerships with nearby housing facilities.
Considering the escalating cost of four-year colleges and the scarcity of affordable housing, Online Schools Guide believes that dorms at community colleges are a smart choice. We understand that you’re seeking a fulfilling and affordable education. That’s why we’re showcasing some of these two-year schools that boast amenities similar to four-year colleges.
When researching community colleges with dorms in Wyoming, our team was pleasantly surprised by the vibrant student life at these schools. Amenities can include dorms, dining halls, and sports teams, all without the hefty price tag of a traditional four-year school. In fact, choosing a community college with on-campus housing can save you thousands of dollars in housing costs alone. Additionally, most of them offer at least one applied bachelor’s degree program, a topic we’ll delve into in a future post.
Contents:
- Two-Year Community Colleges in Wyoming with Campus Housing
- 1. Laramie County Community College
- 2. Central Wyoming College
- 3. Eastern Wyoming College
- 4. Sheridan College
- 5. Northwest College
- 6. Casper College
- 7. Western Wyoming Community College
- 8. Gillette College
- How Many Community Colleges Have Dorms?
- Why are there so Few Community Colleges with Dorms and Student Housing?
- Cost of Community College Dorms Versus Traditional College Dorms?
- What are the Pros of Living in Campus Housing at a Community College?
- What is the Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE)?
Two-Year Community Colleges in Wyoming with Campus Housing
The Wyoming Community College Commission oversees the eight community colleges in Wyoming.
The availability of community colleges with dorms in Wyoming can vary greatly depending on the location and size of the community college. It’s best to directly contact the community colleges you’re interested in to inquire about their student housing options. Keep reading for some of the best community colleges in Wyoming that also offer dorms!
1. Laramie County Community College
Location: Laramie, Wyoming
Website: Laramie County Community College
Housing: LCCC is one of the community colleges in Laramie Wyoming. It has three residence halls with different layouts and room options. Room rates include high-speed Internet access, expanded basic cable TV, electricity, heat, water, and trash service. The cost to live on campus starts at $2,485.00 per semester or around $622.00 per month.
Meals: Students who live on campus at Laramie County Community College must purchase a meal plan for around $2,000 per semester.
On Campus Degree Pick: Diagnostic Medical Sonography Associate of Applied Science. Sonographers typically earn around $80,850 and work in hospitals, medical clinics, and private medical offices.
Online Degrees: Our online degree pick is the Speech-Language Pathology Assistant Program. SLPAs are in high demand and salaries range from $20-$35 an hour.
Tuition Cost:
| Degree | Wyoming In-State | Out-of-State |
|---|---|---|
| Associate per credit hour | $154.00 | $364.00 |
| Bachelor’s per credit hour | $154.00 | $364.00 |
| Housing estimate per month | $622.00 | $622.00 |
Video Tour Foundation Hall at LCCC:
2. Central Wyoming College
Location: Riverton, Wyoming
Website: Central Wyoming College
Housing: CWC has a variety of residence options with different layouts. Room rates include high-speed Internet and utilities. The cost to live on campus starts at $1,295.00 per semester or around $324.00 per month.
Meals: Meal plans start around $1,012 per semester.
On Campus Degree Pick: Any of CWC’s programs through the Alpine Science Institute. ASI is a unique field school for Outdoor Education, Outdoor Recreation, Geospatial Science, Expedition Science, and Regenerative Small Scale Farming. The ASI experiential learning strategy focuses on the integration of field-based skills with outdoor education.
Online Degrees: CWC offers a variety of online courses and degrees but specific degrees are not detailed on the website.
Tuition Cost:
| Degree Type | Wyoming In-State Tuition | Out-of-State Tuition |
|---|---|---|
| Associate per credit hour | $160.00 | $370.00 |
| Bachelor’s per credit hour | $160.00 | $370.00 |
| Housing estimate per month | $324.00 | $324.00 |
Central Wyoming College Housing Video Tour:
3. Eastern Wyoming College
Location: Torrington, Wyoming
Website: Eastern Wyoming College
Housing: Eastern Wyoming College offers two residence halls with suites and double occupancy rooms. All rooms are equipped with internet. The laundry facilities offer washers and dryers to all on-campus residents. Standard rooms start at $1,798 per semester or around $450 per month.
Meals: Meal plans cost $1,554 per semester.
On Campus Degree Pick: Precision agriculture is a farming management technique that uses data to improve crop yields and farm efficiency. It’s also known as precision farming, satellite agriculture, and site-specific crop management. The one year certificate program and stackable toward the AAS. After completing the certificate, students can obtain a FAA UAV pilot’s license, which make this a work ready program in a growing field.
Online Degrees: EWC has several degrees and certificates that can be earned entirely online.
Tuition Cost:
| Degree Type | Wyoming In-State Tuition | Out-of-State Tuition |
|---|---|---|
| Associate per credit hour | $105.00 | $315.00 |
| Bachelor’s per credit hour | NA | NA |
| Housing estimate per month | $450.00 | $450.00 |
4. Sheridan College
Location: Sheridan, Wyoming
Website: Sheridan College of the Northern Wyoming Community College District (NWCCD)
Housing: Sheridan College Housing includes residence halls and apartments with traditional double rooms and access to a full kitchen and common living space. All rooms are furnished and have wired and wireless internet. Hosing costs start around $3,745.00 per semester, or $936.00 per month, for a double room and 214 Meals. Students living on campus have intercollegiate athletic opportunities like the Sheridan College Generals Rodeo team.
Meals: Meal plans are a required for students living on campus, but are included in the cost of housing.
On Campus Degree Pick: Sheridan’s Plant Sciences program is one of the premier two-year programs in the state and region with a a high job-placement rate. Students gain hands-on experience in the student-run greenhouses at the school’s Mars Agriculture Center.
Online Degrees: Our pick for an online degree is Computer Networking Administration. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median pay for computer network administrators is $82,050 a year.
Tuition Cost:
| Degree Type | Wyoming In-State Tuition | Out-of-State Tuition |
|---|---|---|
| Associate per credit hour | $161.00 | $371.00 |
| Bachelor’s per credit hour | NA | NA |
| Housing estimate per month | $936.00 | $936.00 |
5. Northwest College
Location: Powell, Wyoming
Website: Northwest College
Housing: Northwest College has three residence halls and two apartment complexes can house nearly 600 students and family members. for married students and families. Standard double rooms in Lewis & Clark Hall & Ashley Hall start at $1,555.00 per semester or around $389.00 per month.
Meals: Students living in the Residence Halls must chose a meal plan. The price for the meal plan starts around at $1,985.00 per semester or around $496.00 per month.
On Campus Degree Pick: Our on campus pick is the Adventure Education program which includes Aerial Adventure Operations and Outdoor Education & Recreation Leadership.
Online Degrees: Northwest offers a variety of online courses.
Tuition Cost:
| Degree Type | Wyoming In-State | Out-of-State | WUE |
|---|---|---|---|
| Associate per credit | $105.00 | $315.00 | $158.00 |
| Bachelor’s per credit | NA | NA | NA |
| Housing estimate per month |
6. Casper College
Location: Casper, Wyoming
Website: Casper College
Housing: Casper’s Residence Hall Rooms include all utilities, cable TV in common areas, high-speed Internet, and rooms come fully furnished. Students can select a double or single-occupancy room all with individual bathrooms. A common area on each floor has a full-size kitchen, a multi-purpose room for hanging out, key card entry, security cameras, and a laundry room on every floor. The cost of the Residence Hall includes a meal plan and starts around $3,935 per semester or $983.75 per month.
Meals: The cost of a meal plan is included in the dorm rental and varies depending on the meal plan you choose.
On Campus Degree Pick: Associate of Science (AS) in Forensic Science prepares student to pursue a baccalaureate degree after graduation or work as a Forensic Science Technician.
Online Degrees: Casper College offers over one hundred programs 100% or 70% online, making it one of the best online community colleges in Wyoming! Our online pick is the Associate of Applied Science (AAS) Hospitality and Tourism Management Degree that trains students to work in the state’s 2nd largest industry.
Tuition Cost:
| Degree Type | Wyoming In-State Tuition | Out-of-State Tuition |
|---|---|---|
| Associate per credit hour | $147.00 | $357.00 |
| Bachelor’s per credit hour | NA | NA |
| Housing estimate per month | $983.75 | $983.75 |
Casper College Video Tour:
7. Western Wyoming Community College
Location: Rock Springs, Wyoming
Website: Western Wyoming Community College
Housing: WWCC has six different residence halls with a variety of styles and floor plans. Options include suite-style rooms to private apartments. The options start at $1,445 per semester. Housing amenities available to all housing students include an Exercise Room, Free Parking, 24/7 Laundry Room in every hall, Computer Lab, Community Kitchens , and Common Areas: Pool, TV’s, Ping Pong.
Meals: Meal Plans are required for residents in a non-kitchen unit or for residents with less than 30 completed credits (even in a full kitchen unit).
On Campus Degree Pick: The second largest industry in Wyoming is tourism, so our on campus pick is the Associate of Science in Outdoor Recreation.
Online Degrees: Our online degree pic is the Associate of Applied Science (AAS) in Business Management. Graduates can go on to complete the fully online bachelor’s degree in Business Management.
Tuition Cost:
| Degree Type | Wyoming In-State Tuition | Out-of-State Tuition |
|---|---|---|
| Associate per credit hour | $194.00 | $351.00 |
| Bachelor’s per credit hour | $194.00 | $351.00 |
| Housing estimate per month | $361.25 | $361.25 |
WWCC Housing Video Tour:
8. Gillette College
Location: Gillette, Wyoming
Website: Gillette College
Housing: Gillette College has two residence halls, Inspiration Hall and Tanner Village, with a variety of floor plans. Options include furnished suites with single and double options. Housing amenities available to all housing students include free parking, 24/7 laundry facility, wired and wireless internet, and bike racks. Inspiration Hall is the newer dorm, built in 2017, and has a game room, study lounges, TV lounges, communal kitchen, and live-in resident assistants. The cost to live in the dorms starts at $1,770 per semester or around $442 per month.
Meals: Meal Plans are required for required for all on-campus students. They start at 13 meals a week for $1,856 per semester.
On Campus Degree Pick: Our on campus pick is the AS in Mathematics. It provides a strong foundation for advanced math studies and transfers to a four-year degree program.
Online Degrees: The school offers five online degrees, but they are through Sheridan College.
Tuition Cost:
| Degree Type | Wyoming In-State Tuition | Out-of-State Tuition |
|---|---|---|
| Associate per credit hour | $161.00 | $371.00 |
| Bachelor’s per credit hour | $161.00 | $371.00 |
| Housing estimate per month | $442.50 | $442.50 |
How Many Community Colleges Have Dorms?
While community colleges traditionally don’t offer on-campus housing like traditional universities, there are a growing number of exceptions across the United States that offer dormitories or residential facilities. The American Association of Community Colleges reported that 22.8% of public community colleges ran on-campus housing in 2010. By 2022, this number increased to 26.6%.
Why are there so Few Community Colleges with Dorms and Student Housing?
Several factors contribute to why more community colleges don’t have dormitories or residence halls. However, community colleges in Wyoming with housing are a growing trend.
Historical Role of Local Focus
Community colleges were originally created to offer accessible education to local residents, especially for those who couldn’t afford or didn’t prefer a four-year residential college. They cater to commuting students who live nearby. Many community college students are part-time and juggle work, family, and other responsibilities, so on-campus housing is not a top priority for them. Because of this local focus, community colleges typically have less demand for on-campus housing compared to universities that attract students from wider geographic areas.
What’s changing? Community colleges are offering increasingly diverse programs and more advanced degrees like bachelor’s degrees and some offer master’s degrees. Thus, they are attracting students from wider geographical areas. This creates a greater demand for housing when commuting distances become too long. Additionally, the increasing cost of traditional colleges attracts more students to schools that offer housing.
Cost
Building and maintaining community colleges with dorms in Wyoming requires a significant financial investment. Many community colleges have limited budgets and prioritize spending on academic programs, faculty, and facilities directly related to education. Building and managing dormitories also involves compliance with various regulations and accreditation standards, which may pose additional challenges for community colleges.
What’s changing? Many community colleges are forging partnerships with local housing providers. Instead of investing in on-campus dormitories, some may establish partnerships with nearby apartment complexes or housing options to provide off-campus housing for students.
Community colleges across the country are evolving and are exploring or implementing on-campus housing options to meet the needs of their student populations. Campus housing also promotes campus life and attracts students from outside their immediate area.
Cost of Community College Dorms Versus Traditional College Dorms?
The cost of dormitories at community colleges versus traditional four-year colleges and universities can vary significantly. Generally, community colleges with dorms in Wyoming tend to be more affordable than those at traditional colleges and universities in Wyoming.
The cost of dormitory living at traditional colleges and universities can include room and board fees, which often encompass rent, utilities, meal plans, and other amenities. These costs can range from a few thousand dollars to tens of thousands of dollars per academic year, depending on the location, amenities, and type of accommodation. But many community colleges now offer a lot of the same amenities as traditional colleges, like the ones on our list of the best community colleges in Wyoming with dorms!
For example, Central Wyoming College and the University of Wyoming are both Wyoming state-supported schools. However, a student who opts to attend Central Wyoming College for two years and lives on campus can save around $15,340 per year, or $30,680 over the course of two years. That’s not chump change!
| School | In-State Tuition & Fees | Housing& Food | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Wyoming | $7,768 per year | $13,710 per year | $26,078 |
| Central Wyoming College | $4,680 per year | $6,058 per year | $10,738 |
| difference | $15,340 |
What are the Pros of Living in Campus Housing at a Community College?
Living on campus can significantly assist first-year students in transitioning from living at home to living independently. Residing in a residence hall on campus ensures that many essential services, such as cable, internet, and laundry, are readily available to you without the need for additional arrangements. Also, rent, utilities, and internet are included in the price of on-campus housing, so you don’t have to worry about paying separate bills.
Many schools also provide additional amenities such as dining halls, recreation centers, gyms, and community spaces. Living in on-campus housing is like having a VIP pass to campus life, as it allows you to easily access campus activities, amenities, and services, enhancing your overall college experience.
On-campus housing typically offers double rooms, which means having a roommate. However, these living arrangements often lead to lasting friendships that extend beyond your college years. Residence halls are communities where you can meet new friends and share experiences with students who have similar interests and are in the same life stage.
What is the Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE)?
The Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) program allows students from certain states to attend designated institutions and programs in other participating states at a reduced tuition rate. The participating states in the Western Undergraduate Exchange include Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming. Additionally, Nebraska students can benefit from WUE rates through Wyoming community colleges.
Under this program, students can enroll at a cost of 150 percent of the resident tuition. Students from any participating state may join any program of study at as long as they meet all other admission requirements.
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