Which one should I choose?

Hi there! I was recently accepted to UC Santa Cruz. I am thinking about going there or going to community college and transferring out after two years. Going to UCSC seems like a good idea because I want to do research and they are an awesome research school, I will have the college experience, its a beautiful school, and its a UC, but they are not considered a very prestige UC and I would have to pay a lot more than community college. Community college gives me time to really see if I really want to do research, and I could transfer to a better UC, but I am worried about classes being impacted and having to stay longer. Any thoughts of what I should do? Thanks!