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The community college is once exclusive to the United States, but is recognized and developed in other countries. Community colleges, also called junior colleges, are two-year institutions that provide accessible post-secondary education as a transition to a four-year university.
The community college in US offer a wide variety of options to postsecondary students:
- A range of non-credit programs, such as English as a second language, skills retraining, community enrichment programs and cultural activities
- Open access to postsecondary education
- Preparation for transfer to four-year college or university
- Workforce development and skills training
Having a two-year post-secondary degree and progressing to university is a more attainable aim with the potential for more individualized care and services.
Many students study at community college in the US for two years before being transferred to a four-year college, saving substantial tuition money. Attending a community college can be a good way to ease yourself into the higher education world and to learn at your own pace.
If you are looking for the best community colleges in the United States, you have come to the right place. The following is a list of some of the top community colleges in US based on cost and quality.
1. Community College El Paso
- Location: El Paso, Texas
- Number of offered programs study: 129 (check out the complete list here)
- Official website: EPCC Admission & Aid Page
El Paso Community College is a college which is located in El Paso , Texas. It is an institution of medium size with an enrollment of 8,824 undergraduate students.
Not only does EPCC provide high quality and affordable education, the college is ranked by the Aspen Institute as one of the top 10 community colleges in US for its excellent programs, quality instruction and support services that help students achieve their academic and career goals.
2. Community College of Philadelphia
- Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Number of offered programs study: 103 (check out the complete list here)
- Official website: CCP Admission Page
Community College of Philadelphia is a public community college that offers associate degrees, academic qualifications, and qualifications of proficiency. The college offers conventional courses including online degree programs, evening, weekend, and online classes.
Upon graduation, students at the college may earn a bachelor’s degree, and certain programs prepare students to join the work force. Partnerships with dual admissions and four-year school transfer agreements make it easy for the students to continue their education.
3. Community College of Aurora
- Location: Aurora, Colorado
- Number of offered programs study: 100 (check out the complete list here)
- Official website: CCA Admission Page
Community College of Aurora is a multicultural, tight-knit community providing high quality education at two convenient locations and online. CCA serves more than 10,000 students a year at its CenterTech Campus in Aurora; Lowry Campus in Lowry, Denver; and online courses.
Efforts to establish a college in Aurora began in the early 1950s with a group of Aurora citizens, and in May 1983 the Fifty-Fourth General Assembly of Colorado created Aurora Community College.
4. Community College of Denver
- Location: Denver, Colorado
- Number of offered programs study: 124 (check out the complete list here)
- Official website: CCD Admission Page
CCD is one of the 13 community colleges in US under the Colorado Community College System framework. The college offers more than 100 options for graduation and certification, including workforce training, career planning, and transfer to other state schools. It is the nation’s only two-year college which shares a campus and facilities with two four-year universities, Denver’s Metropolitan State University and Colorado Denver University.
5. Los Angeles City College
- Location: Los Angeles, California
- Number of offered programs study: 100 (check out the complete list here)
- Official website: LACC Admission Page
Los Angeles City College was established in 1929, and is home to one of the country’s most vibrant and diverse campuses. Located minutes from Hollywood and neighboring Silver Lake and Echo Park, the campus provides a wide range of technical and vocational programs at a fraction of the cost of state and private colleges.
Its programs include certificates, programs for transfer, and degrees. Ranked among the top three Best Southern California Community Colleges in US, it provides vital pathways for more advanced education and increased employment for students and adult learners.
6. Community College Virginia
- Location: Annandale, Virginia
- Number of offered programs study: 131 (check out the complete list here)
- Official website: NVCC Admission Page
Northern Virginia Community College, one of a public community colleges in US, is composed of six campuses and four centers located in the Northern Virginia suburbs of Washington, D.C. Northern Virginia Community College is one of the largest multi-campus community colleges in US and the largest educational institution in the Commonwealth of Virginia.
7. Community College New York
- Location: New York City, New York
- Number of offered programs study: 75 (check out the complete list here)
- Official website: CCNY Admission Page
Located in the heart of New York City, CCNY has such important ‘firsts’ as: the first college explicitly based on the ideal of educating the ‘whole people,’ the first US documentary film program, the first intercollegiate lacrosse game played in the US, the nation’s first student government, and the longest running US Alumni Association.
It ranks #1 on the overall accessibility ranking by The Chronicle of Higher Education out of 369 selective US public colleges. This measure represents both access and results, reflecting a likelihood that a CCNY student will step up to two or more quintiles of income.
Furthermore, in terms of academic excellence, the Center for World University Rankings places CCNY in the top 1.2 per cent of universities worldwide. More than 16,000 students in eight professional schools and divisions pursue undergraduate and graduate degrees, driven by significant funded research, creativity and scholarships.
8. Community College of North Florida
- Location: Madison, Florida
- Number of offered programs study: 36 (check out the complete list here)
- Official website: NFC Admission Page
North Florida Community College is part of the Florida College System. It enrolls around 1200 students and serves six North Florida rural counties: Madison, Hamilton, Lafayette, Jefferson, Suwannee, and Taylor.
The college was founded in 1957 as North Florida Junior College, with classes starting the following year. It merged in 1966 with the historically-black Suwannee River Junior College. It adopted its present name in 1995.
9. Community College of Baltimore County
- Location: Baltimore, Maryland
- Number of offered programs study: 280 (check out the complete list here)
- Official website: CCBC Admission Page
CCBC has over 100 associate degree and certificate programs in a wide range of fields. Annual enrollment is larger than 72,000 students, the majority of whom live in the communities around them. The college also has regional and international links with 55 countries representing the student body. The Catonsville, Dundalk, and Essex campuses each have a Day and Evening Student Honors Program.
10. Community College San Antonio
- Location: San Antonio, Texas
- Number of offered programs study: 71 (check out the complete list here)
- Official website: San Antonio College Admission Page
San Antonio College, in San Antonio, Texas, is a public community college. It is part of the District of Alamo Colleges, and Texas’ oldest two-year public college. The college has a total enrollment of 22,028 credit students per semester, and an estimated annual enrollment of 16,000 students other than credit.
11. Community College Washington State
- Location: Marietta, Ohio
- Number of offered programs study: 41 (check out the complete list here)
- Official website: WSCC Admission Page
Washington State Community College (WSCC) was established as Washington Technical College in 1971 and relocated to its present location in 1991.
It is a small college with 740 undergraduate students enrolled. The acceptance rate for the State of Washington is 100%. Popular majors include Liberal Arts and Humanities, Bookkeeping and Accounting Technician, and Nursing.
Washington State graduates graduating 35 percent of students go on to receive a starting salary of $23,900.
Final thoughts
If you are considering a dream school, enrolling in a local community college may not be part of your potential plan. But when it comes to college tuition, a two-year school can be an inventive start to your college education.
Take your community college education seriously, besides, if you consider this route. College is college, whether it is a two- or four-year degree, and it can be your ticket to a better future to get off to a good start.
Looking for ways to save on tuition, room and board while you’re enrolling to your dream school? Consider taking one of these full scholarships in USA.
