STUDENTS AND PROGRAMS

INTERACTIVE STATE COMPARISONS

A new survey by Opportunity America, Lumina Foundation and Wilder Research explores what makes community colleges different from four-year colleges and universities: their student profile, their distinctive mission and their unique potential as drivers of regional economic growth.

Among the top findings: community college systems vary widely from state to state.

JOB-FOCUSED LEARNERS

Some state community college systems are more heavily job-focused than others.

A VARIED MIX OF STUDENTS

Most community colleges have a degree-granting ‘credit’ division and a nondegree-granting ‘noncredit’ division. The mix of students varies widely from state to state.

NONCREDIT EDUCATION

Sometimes called the ‘hidden college,’ the noncredit division helps students meet a variety of needs.

LEARN MORE

Top findings
Public policy

(interactive state comparisons)

Employers and industry certifications