Community colleges are popular today because they offer affordable, accessible, and flexible education. The focus of community colleges is on workforce development and career training based on skills. Community colleges provide opportunities to live at home, have a college degree, explore different majors, and earn career-focused certifications.
In this article, we will explore the degrees offered by community colleges and the reasons one should consider attending one.
What is a Community College
A community college is a two-year public institution that offers associate degrees and vocational certifications at a lower tuition cost. It is a postsecondary school that provides undergraduate degrees, such as an associate’s degree.
Community colleges offer academic majors in almost everything by partnering with universities for a smooth process. These colleges are preferred by students who want flexible schedules or want to gain job-specific skills.
Degrees Offered at Community Colleges
The community college offers associate degrees and vocational and technical programs that help students gain skills for a specific career. The degrees and programs offered by community colleges are:
Associate of Arts
This is the most common type of degree offered by a community college. This degree focuses on fields such as business, humanities, or social sciences. It also offers specialization in some subjects, like elementary education, fine arts, business, or general studies.
Associate of Science
This degree focuses on math and science classes. Some colleges also offer Associate of Science degree programs for Geology, Chemistry, Computer Science, and Engineering.
Associate of Applied Science
These are career-focused degrees that prepare graduates for specific jobs, such as nursing, automotive technology, or culinary arts.
Certificate or Diploma
The certificates are focused on shorter, career-focused programs that are designed to give students job-ready skills for a new career or advancement in their current one.
Reasons to Consider Community College
Community college offers an affordable path to higher education, providing flexibility and diverse program choices for students. The following are the reasons one should consider going to a community college:
Affordable
The key advantage of a community college is its affordability. This makes it an easy, accessible option for many students with low incomes. Community college tuition is significantly lower than at a four-year public or private university, which helps students save money and reduce student debt.
Accessibility and Easy Enrollment
Mostly, students prefer colleges that are located near their residences, and community colleges offer this. Most community colleges have open-admissions policies, meaning they accept all students with a high school diploma or equivalent, with no specific GPA requirement.
Flexibility
Community colleges offer flexible scheduling options, such as part-time, evening, weekend, online, and hybrid classes. It allows students to balance their studies with work, family responsibilities, or other commitments.
Personalized Attention
These colleges usually have fewer students, which allows for more personalized and better instructors’ attention. Students can have a strong support system, including tutoring and career counseling.
How to Choose the Right Community College
The key factors to consider before choosing a community college are:
- The academic programs that the college is offering.
- Transfer options and partnership with universities.
- Budget and scholarships for college offerings.
- Career counseling and academic advising.
- Mental health support resources.
- Location feasibility from residency.
- Schedule flexibility and class type: online or hybrid.
- Career outcomes and job position after graduation.
- Any apprenticeship college offering.