America has a diverse higher education system which offers large-scale opportunities in the pursuit of higher education for both local and international students. It also provides a wide range of classes and programs enabling college students to thrive both academically and professionally. One of these education programs is community college which is very common in the US. Today, there are over 1,000 community colleges in America.

American Community colleges.

A community college is a type of educational institution that provides vocational curriculum and college transfer academic programs for high school students. The term has various meanings in different countries. In the US, community colleges were used to be called junior colleges, but it fell from popularity over time and have become today “community colleges”, or technical colleges in other papers. These US colleges are essentially public institutions that afford tertiary education – also known as continuing or post-secondary education – and offer a variety of degrees and certificates. These include diplomas and associate degrees.

The main difference between a community college and a university is that it only takes two years to complete programs and get degrees at a community college, while in a university, it is a four-year college program. As its name suggests, a community college primarily accounts for its surrounding community but also serves as an access point into traditional university for students who plan to pursue higher education. That is why these colleges provide both traditional academic curricula and more technical and vocational programs.

After the two-year school, students at community colleges get degrees of Arts or Science, known as the Associate of Arts (AA) and Associate of Science (AS). After graduation, it is up to the students to choose whether they wish to continue and be transferred to a liberal arts college to complete their bachelor’s degree or to immediately integrate the workforce.

The advantages of attending a community college.

Studying in a community college may have many benefits. First, not everyone can afford the four-year education at a conventional university. However, those who have the means can save money on tuition before heading off to a four-year college.

Fees and tuition costs form a huge gap between a community college and university. According to US News data, the average cost of annual tuition and fees at traditional institutions for the 2018-2019 academic year was $35,676 at private colleges, $9,716 for national students at public colleges and $21,629 for international students. By comparison, the average cost of attending public community college is $3,660 per year for state residents according to the 2018 Trends in College Pricing report released by the College Board. Therefore, a community college is significantly much more affordable and accessible. In addition, it allows students to enter the workforce easily and quickly since they are already prepared for that.

In the US education system, a community college and university stand equally in importance.They can both offer a great opportunity for in-state and international students seeking to extend their knowledge and skills.

Sources: Study in the USA / U.S. News