Two-Year Programs in the United States
More Americans are enrolled in community colleges than in any other type of higher education institution. But these popular post-secondary schools are not very well understood outside the United States. What are community colleges and why should international students take a closer look at them?
— To read more of Community Colleges in the United States: Stepping Stones to Higher Education , please visit American Community Colleges.
There are more than 1,000 community colleges in the United States, enrolling nearly 6 million students each year with more than 500,000 associate degrees awarded annually. Many students begin their education at a community college and transfer to a four-year college or university to complete their bachelor's degree. Over the past four decades, many millions of students have taken advantage of this path to a bachelor's degree.
— To read more of Start Your Bachelor's Degree at a
Community College in the USA, please visit American Community Colleges.
The most practical way to describe a community college is to say that it is an institution of higher education that offers both technical and general education associate degrees and typically offers a host of certification programs and specialty training programs. Contrary to old notions about community colleges being no more than a glorified vocational school, community colleges offer accessible, affordable, high quality education that fulfills a growing demand for higher education attainment. Included in their academic offerings, community colleges typically offer a variety of programs to meet a diversity of student demands. In short, students have options at a community college that would fulfill their needs for specific career training or their need for general courses to be used toward attaining a bachelor’s degree or higher.
— To read more of What is a Community College?,
please visit American Community Colleges.
Community Colleges are public postsecondary institutions that offer certificate, diploma, and associate degree programs designed to prepare students for occupations and professions as well as transfer to bachelor's degree programs. These institutions serve both traditional age students and adults, and provide opportunities for people to earn GED high school equivalency certificates, take occasional courses for personal or professional benefit, or enroll in full programs of studies. A large proportion of community college students are not enrolled in degree programs but have other educational goals.
— To read more of Community Colleges and Junior Colleges,
please visit American Community Colleges.
International students who are planning to study in the United States should consider studying at a community college when they begin their undergraduate studies. Many educational choices are available in the United States, including private colleges, state colleges, major universities, technical/trade schools, and community colleges; however, international students may be unfamiliar with the concept of a "community college" since they are not often found in many countries of the world. In fact, community colleges have their origin in the U.S., where they are both numerous and successful. Drawing upon my 35 years of working at a community college with international students, I'll try to provide a brief history and overview as well as outline some of the advantages of studying at a community college.
— To read more of Consider a Community College,
please visit American Community Colleges.
Community colleges play a very important role in the U.S. educational system. They have existed for more than a hundred years and offer a variety of educational opportunities for their students. While community colleges initially existed to provide a general liberal arts education, this focus changed over time, and now community colleges focus on programs and services that meet the needs of the local community. This allows for a unique partnership between the community college and its community.
— To read more of Junior or Community College: What is the Difference?,
please visit American Community Colleges.
Featured Programs
- Aims College
Greeley, Colorado - Bunker Hill Community College
Boston, Massachusetts - Cerritos College
Norwalk, California - City Colleges of San Francisco
San Francisco, California - Glendale Community College
Glendale, Arizona - Johnson & Wales University
Providence, Rhode Island - Ohio University
Athens, Ohio - Phoenix College
Phoenix, Arizona - Rio Salado Community College
Tempe, Arizona - Santa Monica College
Santa Monica, California - Santa Rosa Junior College
Santa Rosa, California - Scottsdale Community College
Scottsdale, Arizona - Sierra College
Rocklin, California