Choosing a School

Whether you are a high school student, an adult student, or someone looking for retraining, we have all the resources you need to make an educated choice about the right community college for you. We’ll compare community colleges to other institutions of higher education, explore college rankings and the accreditation system, and provide useful tips to ensure your community college credits transfer easily.

View the most popular articles in Choosing a School:

Is Your Community College Top Ranked?

Updated
|
Is Your Community College Top Ranked?
A new ranking of community colleges across the country has just been released, and the results have been met with both appreciation and chagrin. Learn about the rankings and whether or not they matter in your pursuit of a quality community college education.

Finding a community college can be a challenging prospect today, with many states boasting a large number of colleges that all promise the best training for today's workforce. Students may be hard-pressed to find reliable information about the various colleges in their areas, with little concrete information provided outside of the institutions themselves. While Community College Review's goal is to provide students with concrete, valuable information on individual community colleges, a recent ranking of community colleges is stirring both appreciation and controversy.

One publication, Washington Monthly, has created a simple ranking system of the top community colleges in the country. Which community colleges are at the top of the list – and do the Washington Monthly’s rankings truly matter?

This video explores the question, "Which is the best community college?"

The Rankings and the Controversy

Washington Monthly recently released its most recent rankings on community colleges across the country to the delight of many prospective students – and the chagrin of many educators who know better than to heed rankings alone when choosing a college. The publication offers a listing of the top 50 community colleges in the nation, based on a wide range of criteria and information taken from the Community College Survey of Student Engagement.

Interestingly, CCSSE is one of the most vocal opponents to Washington Monthly's rankings. In a press release issued shortly after the publication of

. . .read more

Legislation that will Make Transferring to Four-Year Universities Easier

Updated
|
Legislation that will Make Transferring to Four-Year Universities Easier
Learn about how California and another states are passing legislation to guarantee transfer requirements between community colleges and state universities.

Many high school students are advised to begin their college careers at a community college for cost or academic reasons. However, the transfer process from a two-year college to a four-year university can be confusing at best, with conflicting requirements that may make a degree that much more elusive. The result is that many students never end up graduating at all, and some don't even make it into the hallowed ivy walls of a university in the first place.

This video offers some tips on how to transfer from a community college to a four-year university.

California Higher Education Bill

The state of California is hoping to change all the confusion, thanks to legislation intended to make the transfer process much easier and more streamlined. A report at the Chronicle of Higher Education explains the legislation, which is slated to go into effect during the fall of 2011. The bill was approved in the state senate this month, and it is expected that Governor Schwarzenegger will sign the bill into law.

The California bill requires community colleges to offer a redesigned associate's degree. Students who complete the degree would be guaranteed admission into one of California State University campuses, where they could complete a bachelor's degree in 60 credit hours or less. The purpose of the bill is to increase the number of students who successfully transfer from a

. . .read more

Guaranteed Transfers from Community Colleges to Prestigious Business Schools

Updated
|
Guaranteed Transfers from Community Colleges to Prestigious Business Schools
Learn about articulation agreements between community colleges and prestigious business schools, which can help you earn a lucrative business degree.

Earning a bachelor’s business degree can pay off in dividends, with staff accountants generating $40,000 annually to financial controllers earning a median salary of $70,000. If you are a community college student considering a business career, there’s good news on the horizon! Some of America’s best business programs have partnered with local community colleges, offering transfer students guaranteed admissions into business schools at four-year universities.

This video explains how to transfer from a community college to a four year college.

Building Bridges Between Community Colleges and Business Schools

Across the country, more community colleges and business schools are signing articulation agreements, guaranteeing admissions for transfer students who meet the requirements.

For example, in Westminster, Maryland, Carroll Community College (CCC) signed a transfer agreement with Johns Hopkins University’s Carey Business School in November of 2009. The agreement “assures that qualified community college students can enter Johns Hopkins without the loss of credit and work on a four-year degree while entering with junior status.” With this agreement, community college students at Carroll have a specific outline regarding which courses to take and how they will transfer toward a B.S. Business.

In addition, through this agreement, students of Carroll Community College who intend to pursue a degree with the Carey Business School can access joint programs, resources, and advisors.

According to CCC’s dean of Mathematics, Business, and

. . .read more

For-Profit Colleges Fill the Community College Void

Updated
|
For-Profit Colleges Fill the Community College Void
For-profit colleges are now becoming an alternative for community college students who are stuck on waiting lists or who hope to earn bachelor's degrees. Learn more about the opportunities and articulation agreements between for-profit colleges and community colleges.

As community colleges struggle with over-crowding and a lack of funding, for-profit colleges are offering to help, giving community college students the opportunity to earn transferable credits at low tuition rates.

Kaplan’s Online Courses Can Count Towards Community College Degrees

The Wall Street Journal reports that Kaplan University, a for-profit college owned by the Washington Post Co., is offering California community college students the option of taking courses at its online schools. These credits can be applied towards a degree at their home campuses.

In addition, the newly created Community College Connections program will allow students to take Kaplan’s online courses at a 42% discount, which will make the cost of courses similar to that of a community college course.

Kaplan will also allow graduates of California’s community colleges to transfer to one of its degree programs and complete their bachelor’s degrees at a 10% discount, according to the Wall Street Journal.

This video gives an overview of Kaplan education.

Community College Credits Count Towards B.A. Degrees at Bridgepoint

Meanwhile, Ashford University, which is operated by Bridgepoint Education Inc., is signing articulation agreements with a number of community colleges and public universities and colleges. The articulation agreements usually outline that students transferring from the community college or public university may transfer up to 90 credits towards earning their degrees from Ashford University.

A press release issued by Bridgepoint indicates

. . .read more

Community College Graduates: Prime Candidates for Private Universities

Updated
|
Community College Graduates: Prime Candidates for Private Universities
Learn why private universities are actively recruiting community college graduates to their campuses.

Years ago, community college students were most likely to transfer to state colleges or universities. But today, community college graduates are increasingly found at private and highly selective four-year colleges.

Experts say the change is likely a result of increased recognition of the value of a diverse student body, the pressure that some small colleges are feeling to bring in tuition-paying students during this economic downturn, and awareness from college administrators that community college transfer students often bring a special set of strengths with them to four-year institutions.

Why Private Colleges and Universities are Recruiting Community College Students

Increasing Diversity

University of Virginia sociology professor Josipa Roksa tells the USA Today that selective private colleges specifically recruit community college graduates because these transfer students can often help with their campus diversity “in terms of race and socioeconomic status.

Tatiana Melguizo, an education professor at the University of Southern California, says that her university has been working hard to increase its population of minority students and that USC has found that accepting transfer students is a good way to accomplish the goal. The university, Melguizo tells USA Today, has found that “Community college transfers [are] the best deals. They're motivated, they're more likely to graduate, and they're relatively cheap" for the college to educate.

Seeking Tuition Revenue

Financial considerations may also be driving the surge of private institutions that

. . .read more

Recent Articles

Obtaining Your Bachelor's Degree at a Community College
Obtaining Your Bachelor's Degree at a Community College
Explore the evolving landscape of community colleges offering bachelor's degrees, addressing affordability, accessibility, and workforce needs.
A to Z of Community College Certificates and Courses
A to Z of Community College Certificates and Courses
From business and healthcare to technology and skilled trades, the article showcases the breadth of options available to students seeking to enhance their knowledge, develop new skills, or pursue career advancement.
What is a Community College?
What is a Community College?
This comprehensive guide explains what a community college is, its history, and its role in higher education. It covers the types of programs offered, differences from four-year colleges, benefits of attending, and important considerations for prospective students, providing valuable insights for those exploring educational options.

Choosing a School

GETTING STARTED
This section provides an in depth look at choosing the right community college. We’ll cover the reasons why community college is a good choice and the best steps to take when making your decision. Find tips and resources to aid in your search for the perfect school.
COMMUNITY VS. OTHER COLLEGES
With so many higher education options, we compare community colleges against other institutions to help you find the best option for your needs. We’ll look at how community colleges are outperforming 4-year schools, study the latest data on the ROI of community colleges and explore why more students are turning to them.
COLLEGE RANKINGS & ACCREDITATION
Are you attending one of the best community colleges? Do rankings matter? From the best schools in the US to those losing accreditation, we’ll provide you with the latest resources on community college rankings.
TRANSFER PROCESS
Many community college students transfer to four-year institutions. Be prepared to make a swift and easy transfer with these articles. Determine the most transfer-friendly universities, learn why some 4-year schools are limiting transfer students, and get tips on ensuring your credits go with you.