Two-year colleges or community colleges, are often called “the people’s colleges.” With their open-door policies (admission is open to individuals with a high school diploma or its equivalent), community colleges provide access to higher education for millions of Americans who might otherwise be excluded from higher education. Community college students are diverse, of all ages, races, and economic backgrounds.
Flexibility: The Foundation of the Community College
While many community college students enroll full-time, an equally large number attend on a part-time basis so they can fulfill employment and family commitments as they advance their education.
Today, there are more than 1,600 community colleges in the United States. They enroll more than 11 million students, who represent more than 40 percent of all undergraduates in the United States. As you can see, millions of first-time freshmen begin their higher education in a community college.
Community Colleges Offer a Wide Range of Degrees
Community colleges are also referred to as either technical or junior colleges, and they may either be under public or independent control.
What unites all two-year colleges is that they are regionally accredited, postsecondary institutions, whose highest credential awarded is the associate degree. With few exceptions, community colleges offer a comprehensive curriculum, which includes transfer, technical, and continuing education programs.
>> Continue Reading: Important Factors in a Community College Education
