Community colleges primarily offer two-year undergraduate education leading to associate degrees. They also provide remedial education, GED preparation, high school diplomas, technical diplomas, and technical certificates. Some institutions offer a limited number of four-year bachelor's degrees. Many students transfer to four-year colleges and universities after completing their studies at community colleges.
Community college tuition is free for qualified individuals in 47 states through College Promise programs. This accessibility has made community colleges known as 'democracy's college' and 'opportunity college,' serving students who seek affordable pathways to higher education and career training.
Community college students are diverse in age, background, and circumstances. The median age is 24 years, with 35% attending full-time and 65% part-time. About 80% of students work, with 40% working full-time. The student body includes 29% first-generation students, 15% single parents, 20% with disabilities, 9% non-citizens, and 5% military veterans. Racially and ethnically, students are 41% white, 27% Hispanic, 13% Black, 6% Asian/Pacific Islander, and 1% Native American.
The first public community college, Joliet Junior College in Illinois, was established in 1901. Community colleges grew from 20 institutions in 1909 to 440 by 1930, enrolling approximately 70,000 students. Growth accelerated in the 1960s with 457 community colleges serving baby boomers. However, enrollment has declined every year since 2010, with a total decline of over 2.2 million students from 2010 to 2020.