50 Best Community Colleges in the U.S. for 2025

Community colleges, also called technical colleges and junior colleges, are colleges that primarily offer certificates, diplomas, and associate degrees.

Keep reading to discover the 50 best community colleges in the United States.

Top 20 Community Colleges in the U.S.

There are hundreds of community colleges across the U.S. Below, you'll find basic information about the top 20 in alphabetical order.

1. Alexandria Technical and Community College

Alexandria Technical and Community College is a public community college in Alexandria, MN. It's part of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system.

The college offers associate degrees, certificates, and diplomas in many areas of study. These areas of study include:

• business
• education and human services
• health and nursing
• liberal arts and sciences

Programs are offered in on campus, online, and hybrid formats. Most degrees take two years to earn, but some certificates and degrees can be completed in less than a semester.

2. Anne Arundel Community College

Anne Arundel Community College is a public community college in Arnold, MD. It offers a wide variety of higher education and continuing education programs.

Associate degrees, diplomas, certificates, and job training are available through the college's five schools. These are:

• School of Business and Law
• School of Continuing Education and Workforce Development
• School of Health Sciences
• School of Liberal Arts
• School of Science, Technology, and Education

The college also offers non-credit personal enrichment courses for both kids and adults that teach skills like home repair, sewing, and world languages.

3. College of San Mateo

The College of San Mateo is a public community college in San Mateo, CA, and is part of the San Mateo County Community College District.

It offers nearly 150 associate degree and certificate programs. Areas of study at the College of San Mateo include:

• business and accounting
• computer and information science
• digital media
• kinesiology
• management

Many programs at the college are available as transfer degrees, which guarantee students admission with junior standing to California State University.

4. De Anza College

De Anza College is a public community college in Cupertino, CA. It's part of the Foothill-De Anza Community College District.

The college offers over 75 associate degrees, over 100 certificates, and thousands of individual courses. Fields available for study include:

• administration of justice
• automotive
• computer information systems
• health technologies

Many programs are available online, and many also offer transfer pathways. De Anza is one of the top community colleges in Silicon Valley for transfer programs.

5. Fox Valley Technical College

Fox Valley Technical College is a public technical college in Appleton, WI, and is part of the Wisconsin Technical College System.

It offers associate degrees, technical diplomas, certificates, and apprenticeships. These can be earned in areas like:

• agriculture, horticulture, and natural resources
• business, management, and finance
• education and human services
• engineering technologies

Programs at Fox Valley Technical College are designed to be flexible, and many offer part-time, online, and accelerated learning plans.

6. Honolulu Community College

Honolulu Community College is a public community college in Honolulu, HI. It's a branch of the University of Hawai'i system.

The college offers associate degrees and certificates in diverse fields. These include:

• construction and trades
• creative services
• public safety
• transportation and maintenance

Honolulu Community College also offers summer programs, continuing education courses, and apprenticeship training. Many courses are available online.

7. Kapi'olani Community College

Also in Honolulu, Kapi?olani Community College is another public community college in the University of Hawai'i system.

It offers associate degrees and certificates in multiple areas of study such as:

• computer science and information technology
• healthcare
• liberal arts
• natural sciences and engineering

Many programs are available online, and several offer direct career paths. Most of the programs offered at Kapi'olani Community College transfer into a larger university.

8. Kingsborough Community College

Kingsborough Community College is a public community college in Brooklyn, NY. It's part of the City University of New York (CUNY) system and is the only community college in Brooklyn.

The college offers over 40 associate degree programs and a handful of certificate programs. Students can earn these in fields like:

• business
• criminal justice
• liberal arts
• nursing

Kingsborough Community College also offers more unique programs, like maritime technology and sleep technology. Many programs are available fully online.

9. Lake Area Technical College

Lake Area Technical College is a public community college in Watertown, SD. It offers associate degrees and certificates in high-demand fields.

The fields offered through Lake Area Technical College include:

• agriculture
• business
• diesel technology
• human services

Many of these programs are available online. The college also offers adult education programs and apprenticeship programs.

10. Minnesota State Community and Technical College

Minnesota State Community and Technical College is a public community and technical college with multiple campuses throughout Minnesota and an online campus.

It offers associate degrees, certificates, and diplomas in a variety of fields. These areas of study include:

• building trades
• business
• health sciences
• liberal arts and sciences

A majority of these programs are offered through the online campus. The college also offers K-12 programs and trades camps.

11. Montgomery College

Montgomery College is a public community college in Montgomery County, MD. It offers associate degree, certificate, and professional licensure programs.

The college has over 60 programs in many areas of study. These include:

• applied technologies
• health sciences
• humanities, arts, and communication
• science technology, engineering, and math (STEM)

Montgomery College offers several programs fully online. It also offers academic enrichment

and community enrichment programs.

12. Moraine Park Technical College

Moraine Park Technical College is a public technical college in Fond du Lac, WI, and part of the Wisconsin Technical College System.

It offers over 100 programs, many online, in fields like:

• architecture and construction
• business management and administration
• health sciences
• information technology

Moraine Park Technical College also offers adult education, continuing education, K-12, and apprenticeship programs.

13. Normandale Community College

Normandale Community College is a public community college in Bloomington, MN. It offers associate degrees and certificates.

Many of the college's programs are available online and offer transfer pathways. Programs are available in fields like:

• arts, communication, and humanities
• business
• healthcare and wellness
• science, technology, engineering, and math

Normandale Community College also offers continuing education programs and customized training programs.

14. Northeast Community College

Northeast Community College is a public community college with four campuses throughout northeast Nebraska.

It offers associate degrees, diplomas, certificates, and career training for career fields such as:

• art, audio/video technology, and communications
• business, management, and administration
• health science
• information technology

A large number of these programs are available online. Northeast Community College also offers continuing education programs.

15. Orange Coast College

Orange Coast College is a public community college in Orange County, CA. It offers over 50 associate degree and certificate programs.

The college offers these programs in fields like:

• business and computing
• consumer and health sciences
• mathematics and sciences
• social and behavioral sciences

Online courses are available from Orange Coast College, as are adult education and career education programs.

16. Pasadena City College

Pasadena City College is a public community college in Pasadena, CA. It offers associate degrees and certificate programs.

Many programs are available in an online or hybrid format. Programs are available in areas of study such as:

• arts, communication, and design
• business and industry
• liberal arts
• science, technology, engineering, and math

The college offers several of these programs for transfer as well as career technical education programs.

17. Santa Barbara City College

Santa Barbara City College is a public community college in Santa Barbara, California. Established in 1909, it's one of the oldest community colleges in the state.

It offers degrees and certificates in fields like:

• business and entrepreneurship
• healthcare, wellness, and public service
• nature, numbers, and engineering
• performing, visual, and media arts

Many programs are available online. The college also offers extended learning programs, and on-campus housing is available.

18. Santa Rosa Junior College

Santa Rosa Junior College is a public community college in Santa Rosa, CA. It provides a high number of transfer students to the University of California system.

The college offers associate degrees and certificates in several areas of study. These areas of study include:

• agriculture and natural resources
• engineering and applied technology
• health sciences
• social sciences

Online learning is available for several programs. Santa Rosa Junior College also offers community education and courses for older adults.

19. Southeast Community College

Southeast Community College is a public community college with a handful of campuses in southeast Nebraska plus an online campus.

It offers associate degrees, certificates, and diplomas, many online. These are offered in fields like:

• construction
• healthcare
• manufacturing
• public services

A number of programs through Southeast Community College offer transfer opportunities. The college also offers adult education programs.

20. Western Wyoming Community College

Western Wyoming Community College is a public community college in Rock Springs, WY. It offers associate degrees, certificates, and even a couple bachelor's degrees.

Several of these are available online.Programs and pathways are offered in areas of study such as:

• business and computer technology
• human and public services
• manufacturing and industry
• visual and performing arts

The bachelor's degree is offered in business management both on campus and online. Students have the option to take advantage of residence halls near campus.

Other Top Community Colleges in the U.S.

The programs listed above are some of the best community colleges in the country. Below, we've listed 30 additional top community colleges in the U.S in alphabetical order.

1. Blinn College-Brenham, TX

2. Butte College-Oroville, CA

3. Capital Community College-Hartford, CT

4. Carroll Community College-Westminster, MD

5. City College of San Francisco-San Francisco, CA

6. East Central Community College-Decatur, MS

7. East Mississippi Community College-Scooba, MS

8. Ellsworth Community College-Iowa Falls, IA

9. Evergreen Valley College-San Jose, CA

10. Hennepin Technical College-Minneapolis, MN

11. Howard Community College-Columbia, MD

12. Iowa Western Community College-Council Bluffs, IA

13. Johnson County Community College-Overland Park, KS

14. Kansas City Community College-Kansas City, KS

15. Kaua'i Community College-Lihu'e, HI

16. Lakeshore Technical College-Cleveland, WI

17. Lincoln Trail College-Robinson, IL

18. Los Angeles Pierce College-Los Angeles, CA

19. Mt. San Antonio College-Walnut, CA

20. North Dakota State College of Science-Wahpeton, ND

21. Northwest Iowa Community College-Sheldon, IA

22. Ogeechee Technical College-Statesboro, GA

23. Saddleback College-Mission Viejo, CA

24. Santa Fe Community College-Santa Fe, NM

25. Shoreline Community College-Shoreline, WA

26. St. Cloud Technical and Community College-St. Cloud, MN

27. Valencia College-Orlando, FL

28. Wabash Valley College-Mount Carmel, IL

29. Walla Walla Community College-Walla Walla, WA

30. Western Technical College-La Crosse, WI

How To Choose the Right Community College

With so many community colleges in the United States, how do you choose the right one? Here are a few things to look for when choosing a community college:

• accreditation: Whatever college you choose should be either regionally or nationally accredited; regionally is best if you want to transfer to a bachelor's program.
• cost: How much does the program cost, and what financial aid opportunities are available?
• location: If you plan to attend on campus, you'll need to make sure the college is in an accessible location.
• modality: If you plan to take courses online, you'll need to choose a college that offers online programs.
• programs: Does the school offer a program or pathway in your field of interest?

The above are the things to look at first when choosing a college. Depending on your circumstances, you may also want to look at things like:

• extracurricular activities
• on-campus housing
• student support services
• transfer agreements

How To Apply to a Community College

Applying to community college doesn't have to be a complex process. In fact, applications for community college typically require less work than those for larger colleges and universities.

Most community colleges require you to fill out an application online and submit a copy of your high school diploma or GED equivalent.

Some schools may require you to submit standardized test scores, like ACT or SAT scores, but most community colleges do not require this.

Depending on the school, you may also be required to submit other documents, like financial information or health insurance information.

How Much Does Community College Cost?

The cost of community college can vary depending on several factors. These include:

• whether the college is public or private
• what state the college is in
• whether you're a resident of the state the college is in
• what financial aid you qualify for

According to the Education Data Initiative, the average cost of community college attendance is $2,055 per semester.

The top five least expensive states for community college are:

• California
• New Mexico
• Arizona
• North Carolina
• Florida

The top five most expensive states for community college are:

• South Dakota
• New Hampshire
• Vermont
• New York
• Minnesota

Seventeen states offer tuition-free community college education through some colleges. These states include California, Delaware, Maryland, Montana, and New York.

Benefits of Community College

There are many benefits to attending community college, though the specific benefits will depend on your chosen career path.

First, community college is often less expensive than a four-year college. According to the Education Data Initiative, the average cost of tuition for one year at a four-year public institution is $26,027.

As a result, many students find it to be financially responsible to earn an associate degree and then transfer into a bachelor's program, especially if they haven't chosen a major yet.

Additionally, there are many careers that don't require more than an associate degree, especially in the trades and in health care and administration.

Another benefit to community colleges is they tend to accept a higher number of applicants. Students who perhaps didn't earn a stellar GPA in high school can use community college to improve their grades.

Featured Online Associate Programs

While some of the community colleges listed above offer online programs, there are a few other online schools across the country that offer online associate programs as well.

1. Franklin University

Franklin University is a private university for adult learners. It's based in Columbus, OH, but has a large selection of online programs.

The university offers online Associate of Science and Associate of Applied Science degrees in fields like business, computer science, and health services.

2. Herzing University

Herzing University is a private university with campuses throughout the United States as well as an extensive online campus.

It offers associate degrees in areas like health care, public safety, and technology, as well as associate bridge programs through its School of Nursing.

3. Keiser University

Keiser University is a private university in Florida that offers a range of programs on campus and online.

Students can earn an associate degree in over a dozen fields at Keiser University, including business, general studies, and health services.

4. National University

National University is a private university based in California that offers the majority of its programs online.

It offers online general Associate of Arts and Associate of Science degrees as well as associate degrees in business, biology, and paralegal studies.

5. Purdue Global

Purdue Global is the online branch of Purdue University, a public research university in West Lafayette, IN.

It offers about a dozen online Associate of Science and Associate of Applied Science degrees  in fields like business, criminal justice, education, and nursing

Find Community Colleges in the United States

There are many excellent community colleges throughout the United States. Check out the programs listed above to find the right fit for you today.