Community colleges in the United States - Statistics & Facts

A community college is an educational institution that provides tertiary education and continuing education supplemental to traditional four-year universities and colleges. In the United States, community colleges are primarily two-year public institutions of higher education. Many community colleges also offer remedial education, General Educational Development tests, high school degrees, technical degrees and certificates, and a limited number of four-year degrees. As of 2018, there were 980 public community colleges in the United States.

Community college can be a more affordable and less time-consuming way for students to earn a degree. In 2016 about 5.8 million students were enrolled in public 2-year postsecondary institutions across the U.S. In 2016, the most popular field of study was liberal arts and sciences. About 381,197 associate degrees awarded at community colleges were in this field of study, and it made up one third of all attained degrees.

Community colleges received attention in 2015 after President Barack Obama proposed to make community college tuition free to many residents of the US. For many individuals, community colleges offer the only opportunity for a college education. Tuition rates of public community colleges are significantly lower than for-profit colleges. In 2017, at private for-profit 2-year institutions, tuition costs totaled 14,397 U.S. dollars on average, while in public 2-year institution the tuition costs were estimated to be 3,156 U.S. dollars on average.

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Number of enrolled undergraduate students in public 2-year degree-granting postsecondary institutions in the U.S. in 2016

5.84mn

Number of public community colleges in the United States in 2018

980
Enrollment
Number of enrolled undergraduate students in public 2-year degree-granting postsecondary institutions in the U.S. in 2016 5.84mn Number of enrolled undergraduate students in private non-profit 2-year degree-granting postsecondary institutions in the U.S. in 2016 51,000 Number of enrolled undergraduate students in private for-profit 2-year degree-granting postsecondary institutions in the U.S. in 2016 199,000 Number of students enrolled in non-credit community college programs in the U.S. in 2016 5 million
Institutions
Number of public community colleges in the United States in 2018 980 Number of private community colleges in the United States in 2018 88 Number of tribal community colleges in the United States in 2018 35
Student finances
Percentage of students attending public 2-year institutions in the 2015-2016 academic year who had student loans 21% Percentage of students attending private for-profit 2-year institutions in the 2015-2016 academic year who had student loans 75% Percentage of students attending private non-profit 2-year institutions in the 2015-2016 academic year who had student loans 86%
Revenue and expenses
Total revenue of community colleges from tuition fees in the United States in 2016 16.99 bn USD Total revenue of community colleges from state governments in the United States between 2016 19.77 bn USD Total revenue of community colleges from the federal government in the United States between 2016 7.38 bn USD Average expenditure per full-time equivalent student in public community colleges in the United States in 2013 14,090 USD
Outcome of education
Number of Associate degrees awarded by community colleges in the United States in 2016 833,093 Number of certificates awarded by community colleges in the United States in 2016 533.579

Community colleges and other 2-year institutions in U.S. higher education - Important statistics

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Community colleges and other 2-year institutions in U.S. higher education
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The whole topic in one document

Community colleges and other 2-year institutions in U.S. higher education
  • Edited and prepared
  • Download in PPT/PDF format
  • Instant access
  • From $365
View dossier
Enrollment
Number of enrolled undergraduate students in public 2-year degree-granting postsecondary institutions in the U.S. in 2016 5.84mn Number of enrolled undergraduate students in private non-profit 2-year degree-granting postsecondary institutions in the U.S. in 2016 51,000 Number of enrolled undergraduate students in private for-profit 2-year degree-granting postsecondary institutions in the U.S. in 2016 199,000 Number of students enrolled in non-credit community college programs in the U.S. in 2016 5 million
Institutions
Number of public community colleges in the United States in 2018 980 Number of private community colleges in the United States in 2018 88 Number of tribal community colleges in the United States in 2018 35
Student finances
Percentage of students attending public 2-year institutions in the 2015-2016 academic year who had student loans 21% Percentage of students attending private for-profit 2-year institutions in the 2015-2016 academic year who had student loans 75% Percentage of students attending private non-profit 2-year institutions in the 2015-2016 academic year who had student loans 86%
Revenue and expenses
Total revenue of community colleges from tuition fees in the United States in 2016 16.99 bn USD Total revenue of community colleges from state governments in the United States between 2016 19.77 bn USD Total revenue of community colleges from the federal government in the United States between 2016 7.38 bn USD Average expenditure per full-time equivalent student in public community colleges in the United States in 2013 14,090 USD
Outcome of education
Number of Associate degrees awarded by community colleges in the United States in 2016 833,093 Number of certificates awarded by community colleges in the United States in 2016 533.579

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