1. Create Account
  2. Login
StudyUSA
Match Me
  • Create Account
  • Login
  • School Search
  • Resources
    • All Resources
    • Articles
    • Student Voices
    • Videos
    • Magazines
    • Podcasts
  • Services
    • All Services
    • Accommodation
    • Support
    • Career
    • Financial
    • Testing
    • Other
  • Apply
  • Chat

Community Colleges in the USA

Community Colleges in the USA

Jul 28, 2014

 

Approximately 13 million students are enrolled in community colleges across the United States. Nearly 45% of all students earning a bachelor’s degree attended a community college.

More international students are attending community colleges, which offer a popular alternative for completing the first two years of a bachelor's degree. They see community college as a starting point in their effort to earn a four-year or graduate degree from an American university. These first two years are designed to provide a strong foundation of general knowledge before a student begins concentrating on a major field of study.

Transfers and Training

In fact, many university advisors recommend that students attend community college "college transfer" programs first, and then transfer to universities for the final two years. Students transfer or use their credits from community colleges to earn a four-year degree. Many community colleges and four-year institutions also have articulation agreements to make transferring even easier.

For example, when students apply for admission to the Seattle Community Colleges, they may request a Transfer Admission Guarantee from the Johns Hopkins Carey Business School. Students spend their first two years at the Seattle Community Colleges, then transfer to finish their degrees at Johns Hopkins.

In addition, community colleges often host “transfer fairs” and invite four-year institutions to come and recruit their students to complete the bachelor’s degree.

In addition to college transfer programs, U.S. community colleges offer a wide range of workforce (job-training) programs. These programs train students in hundreds of careers: business administration, computer programming, nursing, fashion design, hotel and restaurant management, nanotechnology, commercial photography, engineering or advertising art. Students who complete these courses earn degrees or certificates. International students who complete a workforce program that is a minimum of nine months are then eligible to apply for Optional Practical Training and gain some paid working experience in their field.

Helping the Local Community

Community colleges meet the educational and vocational needs of local communities. Almost all community colleges in the USA are government-supported. By maintaining an "open door policy" with low tuition costs and few entrance requirements, community colleges have offered many U.S. citizens a chance to get a college education. **

What’s the Difference?

Community Colleges and four-year universities are different. Here’s how:

    • Admission is easier. TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) scores and academic requirements are usually lower for admission to U.S. community colleges than to four-year institutions. Many community colleges also offer ESL (English as a Second Language) programs or developmental math for students whose scores are too low to begin academic studies immediately.

 

    • Costs are lower. Tuition at community colleges can be as much as 20% to 80% less than at four-year American universities and colleges. This is a tremendous cost savings for the first two years of the bachelor’s degree.

 

    • Student enrollment in classes, or at the institution in general, is often smaller than at four-year schools.Teachers and advisors are able to provide more one-on-one attention to students. Many U.S. and international students say that attending smaller schools for the first two years helped them make a good transition into larger four-year schools for the final two years.

 

    • Classroom environments are more supportive. In the U.S. educational system, students often compete for good grades. International students who do not speak English fluently are at a disadvantage. Often, they do better and feel more comfortable in smaller classes where there is less competition. In addition, community colleges typically offer free tutoring to support students’ success.

 

  • Adjusting is easier. Two years at a community college can help an international student improve English language skills and grow accustomed to the U.S. educational system and culture.

Article by Andrea Insley, Ed.D.

Andrea Insley, Ed.D., is Executive Director, Global Initiatives at Seattle Central Community Colleges in Seattle, Washington.

Look at our Community College Programs

 

StudyUSA_logo_200x55

 

Follow us:
Written by

Travis

Get matched to the best program for you

Let us know what you're looking for so we can find the best school for you.

Get matched
Call to action background image. Decorative.

Useful Articles

Main image for the blog post titled New Year, New Me…not!
New Year, New Me…not!
Main image for the blog post titled An Open Letter to Lycoming College
An Open Letter to Lycoming College
Main image for the blog post titled Learn to Protect Our Environment for a Living
Learn to Protect Our Environment for a Living
Main image for the blog post titled Learn English at Disney
Learn English at Disney
Read more

Check Out These Schools

Tulane University

Tulane University

$45,000—$50,000 Year

Masters
Contact
The English Language Learning Center at Governors State University

The English Language Learning Center at Governors State University

$5,000—$10,000 Semester

Certificate/Short Term Summer English Programs
Contact
Rowan University

Rowan University

$15,000—$20,000 Year

Bachelor Degree
Contact

Related Stories

International Education Week at University of Nevada, Reno!

Main image for the article titled International Education Week at University of Nevada, Reno!
Ice Cream Social at University of Nevada, Reno!

Main image for the article titled Ice Cream Social at University of Nevada, Reno!
Ice Cream Social at Rice University!

Main image for the article titled Ice Cream Social at Rice University!
University of Nevada, Reno students have fun at Lake Tahoe!

Main image for the article titled University of Nevada, Reno students have fun at Lake Tahoe!

Start your U.S. adventure with Study in the USA

What's your dream? We can guide, advise, and connect you with your perfect U.S. school. We can also help you with the application process.
More about us
Partner Services

Learn About U.S. education financing, housing, and more

Partner service logo for Uniplaces

Uniplaces

Uniplaces is an accommodation provider with a large choice of verified rooms, entire flats and residences. The platform offers an easy, fast and safe way of booking a place to live. Check out the thousands of properties in the best cities and book a...

Read more
Partner service logo for TestDEN Ultimate TOEFL Test Prep Online Course

TestDEN Ultimate TOEFL Test Prep Online Course

TestDEN's Online TOEFL Test Prep is just what you need to quickly and effectively prepare for the TOEFL test. Since 1998, TestDEN has helped tens of thousands of students raise their TOEFL scores.

Read more
Partner service logo for Cturtle

Cturtle

The JOB+ Career Accelerator gives you the work experience, career coaching and professional network you need to get a great graduate job.

Read more

Testimonials

Quotation mark.

Just to let you know that I have been accepted by the St Cloud State University for the summer 2019 semester.

Enow-Nkongho Ehabe Cameroon

This helped me to have an idea of what it's like to study in the USA

Mina Ashraf Egypt

I used StudyUSA.com to find the various Universities that I choose to apply for Fall 2018. It was quite helpful cause of the easy to use interface and it had all the relevant pieces of information about every Universities/ Institutes.

Harsa Mitra India

Resources

Learn about American culture and education direct from our experts at Study in the USA. Read more

Achieving Your Goal
Admissions and Placement Testing
Beyond the Basics
Education System in the USA
Financing Your U.S. Education
Frequently Asked Questions
Life in the USA
Resources
Student Experiences
For students age 10-18
Study in Canada
Podcasts
Magazines
Videos
Student Voices
Ask StudyUSA.com

Subscribe to get the latest from Study in the USA

You can unsubscribe at any time.


StudyUSA
Explore

  • School Search
  • Resources
  •   Articles
  •   Student Voices
  •   Videos
  •   Magazines
  • Partner Services
  •   Accommodation
  •   Career
  •   Financial
  •   Other
  •   Support
  •   Testing
  • Apply
  • Chat
Information

  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Course Index
  • Article Index
  • Create account
  • Sign in
  • For Educators & Institutions
Match Me
  • English
    English

  • Privacy & Policy
  • /
  • Terms

Study in the USA logo

© 2023 Study in the USA. All Rights Reserved.

Global Study logo
A member of the Global Study network

When you visit or interact with our sites, services or tools, we or our authorised service providers may use cookies for storing information to help provide you with a better, faster and safer experience and for marketing purposes.