What is a Community College?

More Americans are enrolled in community colleges than in any other type of higher education institution. But these popular post-secondary schools are not very well understood outside the United States. What are community colleges? Why should international students take a closer look at them?

Community colleges offer several kinds of programs of interest to international students:

• University-transfer program
• Technical programs
• Job-training programs
• Basic, skills programs
• Special-interest programs

International students are probably most interested in the first program on this list: university-transfer programs. Community colleges offer the first two years of a normal four-year bachelor's degree program. Thus, students who attend a community college can prepare themselves to transfer to a four-year institution by completing the lower division courses at the community college instead of at a university. After two years, students can apply to the four-year college or university to complete their degree.

For example:

1. High School (4 years) 
2. College or University - Lower Division (2 years)  or Community College - Associate Degree (2 years) 
3. College or University - Upper Division (2 years) = Bachelor’s Degree   

For international students coming to the United States from other countries, community colleges offer some distinct advantages over other institutions:

• Easy, open admission policies
• Wide selection of academic and technical programs
• Basic skill courses including ESL
• Supportive learning environment with small classes
• Low cost tuition
• Credits fully transferable to other colleges and universities