AUSTIN (KXAN) — For the hundreds of students who were enrolled at recently-shuttered ITT Tech and Career Point College in Austin, Austin Community College is hosting a fair on Saturday, Nov. 5 to help displaced students get back on track.

Dr. Virginia Fraire, ACC vice president of student services, says the fair will give those students an opportunity to learn more about ACC’s programs as well as answer any questions about prior credits.

“In general most of the courses the students have taken at these proprietary schools are not college credit,” explains Friare. “So, we will need to visit with them on a 1-on-1 basis to see.”

The event will be held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at ACC’s Highland Campus at 6101 Airport Blvd. The event is free and open to the public.

Choosing the right college:

1. Accreditation: Accreditation signifies that a college has met certain standards to provide a quality education. When considering a college, find out whether it is accredited and learn about its accreditation agency — standards vary and some are more respected than others. ACC is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, the same agency that accredits the University of Texas at Austin and Texas State University. To maintain its accredited status, the college must undergo regular reviews.

2. Student support: Services for students and opportunities for extracurricular activities can be just as important to the college experience as time in the classroom. ACC offers numerous services to support students throughout their college career, including free in-person and online tutoring.

3. Cost/Affordability: Tuition is a significant expense, regardless of whether a college is large or small, public or private. Students should understand the total cost of their degree and options for financial aid. Be aware that federal financial aid is not available at education providers that aren’t accredited. ACC tuition for in-district students is 81 percent less than area colleges and universities.

4. Quality of instruction/teaching: ACC instructors must meet certain standards to teach at the college. They possess advanced degrees and are highly-qualified experts in their field who are at ACC because they love to teach. They also help students network in their field of study.

5. Transferability of courses: Credits earned at one institution are not always accepted by another college, particularly if they are earned at an institution that does not meet common accreditation standards. ACC is the #1 source of transfer students to area colleges and universities. Agreements with dozens of four-year institutions designate the transferability of specific courses and/or degrees. Some students take advantage of reverse transfer, where credits earned at a four-year university are applied to an ACC degree.