2021 Reports

An Introduction to Community Colleges and Their Students

Community College Research Center

Community colleges serve about 10 million students per year, or roughly 44% of all undergraduates, depending on the definition used. The nation’s 1,000 community colleges are found in rural, suburban, and urban areas and are much more affordable than four-year colleges, providing access to higher education for nearly all Americans.

Community colleges play an essential role in higher education. They provide instruction in a wide variety of fields that lead to employment in sectors such as health care, public safety, information technology, business, and manufacturing. Community colleges prepare students for transfer to four-year colleges and universities, and allow high school students to earn college credits through dual enrollment. They teach adults who are preparing for GEDs or learning English. And community colleges partner with local employers to train or upskill workers needed for regionally important industries and occupations.