A higher education is becoming more and more essential for people who want to be competitive in today's job market.
And these days, from the best online colleges to the best distance learning programs, accessibility and affordability is the name of the game. In this regard the nation's over 1600 community colleges have been leading the way for a long time. As the name implies, community colleges serve communities. They grant two-year associate degrees, certificates, credentials, and diplomas that prepare graduates for a fulfilling career or successful transfer to a baccalaureate program. Many offer continuing and adult education courses. Some offer dual-credit programs to area high school students. In these ways and many more, community colleges—often called junior colleges, city colleges, or technical colleges—have a tremendous impact on their region and its population.
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According to the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC), 44 percent of all undergraduate college students are enrolled at a community college. Community colleges offer students the opportunity to save money, prepare for transfer to a four-year college, get ready for a career, try out college, and/or take advantage of a flexible schedule. There are many good reasons to consider a community college as your first step into higher education. Here are five of the most common:
Community colleges are affordable! The AACC reports that in the academic year 2016-17, the average estimate of full-time cost for a student to attend a community college was $17,000, which included an average $3,520 for tuition, $8,060 for room and board, $1,390 for books and supplies, $1,760 for transportation, and $2,270 for other expenses. Students often pay much less than the "sticker price" after student aid and other benefits are factored in. In comparison, in-state students at public four-year schools can expect to pay closer to $25,000; out-of-state students approach $40,000; and students at private schools can pay $50,000 or more per year.
Community colleges are inclusive! Community colleges do not have stringent admissions standards that require high scores on an admissions tests or a certain grade-point average from high school. In most cases, anyone with a high school diploma or equivalent can enroll. More and more community colleges are making it easier for high school students to enroll in college courses while still in high school, often earning high school and college credit simultaneously. Starting at a community college gives students a chance to improve a high school record before transferring to a university. Open access does not necessarily mean that students can take any course they want. Students usually are given placement examinations and then advised or placed into developmental courses if they are not up to college-level work.
Community colleges are a part of your community! Most community colleges are supported by local taxes. So the best of them work at having a positive influence in the community. Other than the obvious way of providing affordable higher education, community colleges also work with area companies to stay abreast of the workforce needs in the region. They make adjustments to their programs and curricula to meet those needs quite often, whether it is through a degree program, a career enhancement course, an adult education class, or a technical certification program. Community colleges keep a finger on the pulse of the community.
Community colleges are convenient! Because they are in touch with their communities, community colleges offer classes at times and locations that are convenient for students in those communities. Classes are often offered at several locations, during the day, in the evenings, or on weekends. An abundance of online and hybrid courses provide more alternatives to make education convenient to those who must fit school around work or family responsibilities. Many community colleges even offer childcare services for the parent-student. And class sizes are typically smaller at community colleges compared to similar courses at four-year institutions.
Community colleges are diverse! Community colleges have the most diverse group of students. Students of the widest array of age, ethnicity, degree of ability, socioeconomic status, nationality, and much more attend community colleges. The opportunity to interact with and learn from students with many different backgrounds and life experiences is another big advantage of attending a community college. The diversity at community colleges, in some ways, better prepares students for life in our diverse world. But in addition to having diverse students, community colleges also have diverse programs. Community colleges offer both vocational programs and academic transfer programs. For example, community colleges prepare most of the nation's registered nurses, police officers, paramedics, firefighters, and advanced-skill technicians.
What Are the Best Community Colleges?
College Choice has correlated data from Aspen Institute's College Excellence Program, Payscale, and individual community colleges to compile a list of the 50 best community colleges in the country. We considered several factors in developing an institutional performance score, including first year retention rates, three-year graduation rates, credentials awarded, etc. We also factored percentage of non-traditional and minority students, percentage of Pell grants, and minority graduation rates in order to create a diversity score. Finally, we compared in-district tuition rates and potential salary to give us a sense of the return on investment. Since much of the focus at College Choice is on helping you choose a college, we did not consider schools that did not offer an associate degree, and we eliminated those schools where associate degrees were an exceptionally low percentage of their annual awards. In the end, we believe these fifty schools represent the best of what can be a wise decision for many prospective college students.
Top 10 Best Community Colleges
See our rankings methodology page.
