What Are Community Colleges?

Buy this book »

Community colleges are accredited two-year institutions of higher education dedicated to serving the educational and workforce needs of their local communities. They are often called "the people's college" because of their philosophy that anyone can benefit from a college education. Community colleges welcome a diverse population of women and men of all ages, abilities, races and ethnicities, backgrounds, nationalities, and degrees of academic preparation. Open admission policies, low tuition rates, flexible schedules, and convenient locations make them easily accessible to the public.

Some community colleges are large, urban institutions with several campuses serving thousands of students; others are in rural settings with small student populations; some serve suburban communities on the fringes of mid-sized or large cities or towns. Most community colleges are public; others are independent or private. They are all dedicated to teaching and learning, open access, and quality education for everyone.

At community college, you can train for some of the fastest growing jobs in the economy, or follow a course of study that will allow you to transfer into a bachelor's degree program at a four-year institution. You can also take courses just for pleasure or to improve your work skills.

Areas of Education

Most community colleges offer a comprehensive range of programs in the following general areas of education:

• Basic skills education (sometimes called developmental or remedial education) in reading, writing, mathematics, and English language skills to prepare you for college-level academics, if needed, before you start a particular course of study. Most of these courses do not carry any college credit; that is, they do not count toward a certificate or degree.
• Academic preparation for transfer (movement) to an upper division (junior/senior year) college or four-year institution to study for a bachelor's (baccalaureate) degree. Your first two years of general education courses at community college may count toward your four-year degree if you decide to transfer.
• Vocational and technical education (training in a skilled trade or technology) to prepare you for direct entry into the workplace with a certificate or degree. Transfer to a four-year institution is also a possibility in some programs; sometimes additional coursework is required.
• Continuing education and workforce development, ranging from a wide variety of courses designed for personal enrichment to programs that respond to the specific needs of business and industry for skilled workers. Many of these courses are non-credit and do not lead to a certificate or degree.

Some Background on Community Colleges

Each year, community colleges help build an educated and skilled workforce in the communities they serve. They give millions of individuals like you a first or next step up their personal ladders of success. And, they've been doing this job in local communities, right where you live, for over a hundred years.