What’s a community college?

Community colleges are two-year schools. At a community college, you can earn an associate’s degree in arts or sciences, or you might earn a specific certification, such as in medical transcription or computer repair. You can also proceed to a four-year college after earning an associate’s degree, and the classes you took at the community college will, for the most part, transfer as credits toward your bachelor’s degree.

More than 10 million students attend the almost 1,200 community colleges in the United States. Part-time students are more common at community colleges than at four-year schools. Health care and technology are two of the most popular fields of study for community college students.

Although some students feel that there are stigmas attached to community colleges, this is untrue. Plenty of people build very successful careers after attending community colleges. Whether a community college is the right choice for you depends largely on the kind of career you hope to build. Many students enjoy the smaller campuses and class sizes of community colleges.

Community colleges also offer many short-term training programs. You can often earn a license or certificate for careers in firefighting, electrical and science technicians, realty, auto mechanics and more by attending a program at a community college.

Talk to a guidance counselor at your high school, or call your local community college, and make an appointment to talk to someone in the admissions office. Be ready to discuss your goals, questions and concerns about your future career.

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