The two ways I see a community college worth the effort are by 1.) saving money and 2.) only if all your credits can be applied to your 4 year degree. But, why even get an associates, when you can jump right into a 4 year degree, taking a few remedial classes(if available) to get you up to speed. Also, sometimes, by talking with a college directly, they can wave some high school pre-reqs for tests showing your competency.