Starting your college education can affect many aspects of your life. You will need to fit your studies in around your weekly routine - it's not always easy, but many people manage it.

Discussing your education plans with your family and friends will
  encourage their support and understanding regarding your
  expanded responsibilities

Reserving sufficient time for quiet, uninterrupted study while at
  home may be difficult

Asking friends and family to help you determine what suits your
  situation may be the best solution

Having sound organizational and time management skills can be
  keys to success

Weekly planning may be the best way for you to prioritize your
  activities. For example, preparing meals a week in advance will
  save you time in preparing dinner for your family

Childcare can be a challenge for student parents. There's no
  single easy answer so all possibilities may need to be investigated

Colleges and universities normally have childcare facilities but
  they may be in high demand and may charge fees

Many students rely on a combination of help from relatives or
  friends and some paid care

A community college, sometimes called a junior college, technical
  college, or a city college, provides higher education granting
  certificates, diplomas, and Associates' degrees

Community colleges are geared toward local students and local   needs

Community college can be completed in two years with training
  geared toward local needs. Professional programs will usually have
  local placements

Open enrollment policies allows these students to obtain   admission:

Students with mediocre high school academic records

Students who dropped out of high school or were expelled and
     later obtained a GED

Students who never took the SATs and/or ACT

Students who recognized the benefits of college education
     relatively late in life

Students whose personal obligations or limited financial
     resources prevented them from attending college on the      traditional schedule

Tuition and fees are lower than traditional four year public or
   private universities, allowing students with lower incomes an
   opportunity to study

Community colleges have little or no time limits on when classes
  must be taken or a degree must be earned

Students who cannot take a full-time load for whatever reason
  (family, job, etc.), are thus not under pressure to complete
   courses in a limited timeframe

Four-year colleges often give priority to students transferring
  from community colleges, citing their demonstrated preparedness
  for junior and senior college-level work

Students who may not have been able to attend a particular
  college after high school (whether for academic, financial, or
  personal reasons) may now be able to attend the college of their   choice

Several states have regulations requiring the associate's degree
  in a particular field to be automatically credited towards the core
  curriculum for a four-year degree at another state university or
  private university

Research shows that there is no learning or income penalty for
  individuals who start at a community college and transfer to a
  four-year institution

Additionally, research indicates that students who begin their
  higher education career at a community college are more likely to
  transfer to a higher quality four-year institution than if they had
  started at a four-year college

Holders of a two-year associates degree have more immediate
  earning potential than students with more than 2 years of higher
  education but did not earn a degree

Transferring credits from community college to a four-year
  college maybe difficult because each college has its own   requirements

Therefore, if you are planning on transferring to a bigger
   university you will need to know the course requirements of that
   particular university of your choice

Some colleges have agreements for holders of associate degrees
  to put those credits toward a bachelor

SFC suggest you to speak with the admission councilors of your
  college of choice to find out information about your individual   situation

Research shows individuals with Associate's degrees earn less
  than those with Bachelor's degrees

However, because a correlation exists between years of
  education and earnings, this says more about years of schooling
  than the value of Associate's degrees or certificates

Community colleges typically have smaller libraries than
  universities, possibly reducing the research opportunities of their
  students (though libraries may be part of an interlibrary loan
  agreement with other libraries at universities)

This is also somewhat less of an issue today due to the
  proliferationof online academic databases, for which community
  college students may share equal access with their bigger State
  University cousins and/or private universities

Community colleges might have fewer sections available for
  students to enroll. For example, there might be only one section
  in higher physics while a four-year college might have four or
  more sections of its equivalent

Some equivalent lower-division classes required for the major may
  not be offered

However, many community colleges have concurrent enrollment
  programs with local universities which permits students to
  completethe required lower division courses prior to transferring

Universities or four year colleges, address state or country wide
  needs

At the end of your four years, you will graduate with a Bachelor’s
  degree in a subject of your interest

Bachelor Degree holders are, generally, paid more than Associate’s
  degree holders

Some universities have very high reputations for their teaching and
  research

You will be able to meet and interact with students all over the state,
  country, or the world allowing you to make essential contacts

The tuition and fees associated are higher than in community college

Practical experience is limited, unless you enter a program with
  specific co-op or internship opportunities

The U.S. Department of Education's College Navigator allows you to
  search schools by program: http://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/

Do any area schools offer the program of study you need to meet
  your career and educational goals?

Are those classes offered at a time convenient for your work and
  family schedule?

Does your school offer classes through a distance learning
  environment?

Also consider you will pay less on the universities/college in your
  state/country than universities/colleges in other states/countires.
  This is commonly known as instate/outstate students

And finally, Pray salatu’l istiqara, so may Allah (sw) help you choose
  what is best for you

One of the most important things that a student must do is
  determine the cost of education and how you will pay for it

Remember to think about all costs involved in school attendance   (including tuition, mandatory fees, optional fees, transportation   expenses, books and supplies, food, technical equipment that
  may be required, etc.).

Consider how the cost of education will fit into your budget with
  your other expenses - such as rent, house payment, car
  payment, childcare, etc

Consider your options for paying for college:

Financial aid

Employer tuition reimbursement and loan repayment programs

Scholarships and grants

Student Loans If you've applied for gift aid such as grants and      scholarships but still need more money to pay for your
     education, carefully consider federal student loans and, as
     a last resort,alternative loans

If you have outstanding loans from your previous education,
   review the opportunities available to you when you return to
   school, such as postponing your loan payments

If you have a defaulted student loan, you have options if you
  wish to receive additional financial aid

Complete necessary admissions applications and the Free
  Applicationfor Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

Contact the admissions office for the necessary forms to get you   admitted and registered for classes

Contact the financial aid office for information on applying for   financialaid

Make sure you have all of your paperwork accurately completed
  and processed on time. This will make the transition into college
   less stressful

The staff in the admissions and financial aid offices is there to
  help you, so don't hesitate to contact them if you have questions
  or don't understand the process

Full-time study does not mean all the time!

A full course load requires up to 15 hours a week of in-class time

Out of class study can be fit around your personal schedule

You can complete your degree or diploma quickly

You can participate more in class, and increase contact with TAs    and your professor

According to some studies Over 40% of higher education
   students study part-time

Many programs now offer part-time study, so find out if it’s
  available at the college or community college of your choice

Courses that are specifically designed for adults often have
  convenient evening or half-day sessions at fixed times

Although part-time study takes longer, you may find it suits your
  career plans or family life better

If regular attendance at a university or college is difficult, you
  may wish to think about a course that you can follow from home
  at your own pace

Some colleges and universities offer certain courses on a flexible
  basis using either workbooks or computer based 'e-learning'.

You may still meet your tutor and other students occasionally,
  but obviously, you would have less personal contact studying this way

Help with your academic work:

If you feel you don't understand the work or you're not sure
    exactly what's expected of you, always ask your professor or
    TA first

They will usually be more than happy to explain things further
     and give you advice

Also tell them if you're having trouble with your workload or
    meeting deadlines - they may not realize if you don't

Degree problems:

If you are worried about your overall degree program, contact
    the academic advisor of your program

They will make suggestions or help you solve the issue quickly

They may also help you with personal issues, if you let them
     knowabout it

Personal and financial problems:

The majority of universities or colleges offer counseling and
     financial aid

Becoming familiar with the policies of your financial aid office will
    allow you to take advantage of the different scholarships and
    bursaries available to mature students

Counseling services may not have an answer for all your
    answers, but their experience and training makes them
    a wonderful source to approach regarding personal difficulties

Health Worries:

Your university or college will have a health center or health services office, where      you can go to discuss your health issues

Many universities require their students to purchase health insurance, as part of      their school fees

Careers help:

The career services office in your college/university will provide
     services related to student issues, such as career counseling,
     resume and cover letter aide, and provide students with job
     hunting advice

Reminder Make sure you start searching for internships/co ops
    as early as your freshman year

Hiring companies look for students/graduates with experience
    andcommunity services over students/graduates with no
    experience while they were in college