Community colleges in the United States, what are they exactly?
What are community colleges?
community colleges in the United States: International students have many options for higher education in the United States. There are colleges, universities, community colleges, and many other options. However, many international students may not be familiar with American educational systems and you may not know what a community college looks like.
A community college is a school that offers a pathway to four-year degrees at a reasonable price. The American Association of Community Colleges states that there are 1,167 community colleges in the United States. An associate degree is a 2-year college degree.
A community college has many advantages. Students can save money by going to a two-year community college and then transferring to a 4-year university to complete their degree. The average annual cost to attend a public university is $2,713. By comparison, the average annual cost to attend a four-year public college or university is $7,605.
Not only are you saving money, but many community colleges offer certificates and degrees in specific career-oriented fields, such as engineering technology or auto mechanics.
This allows students to enter the workforce faster than at 4-year colleges.
Many community colleges now offer select bachelor’s and associate’s degree programs. Additionally, many community colleges have dropped the word “community” from their names and call themselves a college because they offer a 4-year degree program. For example, Bellevue Community College is now Seattle Central Community College.
International students can obtain higher education at a low cost by attending a university or community college in the US.