Can You Attend Community College Online?
Community colleges provide a foundational education for various art, science, and vocational fields through affordable programs. You can choose to study individual courses, obtain a certificate, or earn an associate degree. Schools may also offer to help you transfer to a four-year program.
The following page discusses the purpose of attending community college online, the benefits of doing so, and the available programs. You can read the article below to discover estimated costs and transfer tips.
What Is Community College?
The University of Chicago created the first community college, initially called a junior college, in 1896. Community colleges originally offered a stepping stone for students to obtain a bachelor’s degree. Currently, online community colleges help people of all backgrounds, from high school students to working adults, get educated at a low cost.
Community colleges generally offer an open enrollment policy, which allows admission to most applicants. Full-time students may require a high school diploma or GED certificate. Governments provide monetary aid to most community colleges, which helps reduce tuition prices at these public non-profit schools.
Types of Online Community College Programs
Online community colleges offer various program types, including certificates, associate degrees, and guaranteed transfer programs. Each educational program has different graduation requirements.
Certificate programs teach essential skills in a short timeframe. These non-degree programs focus on specific topics and avoid general education courses. Certificates cover various fields, including accounting, early childhood education, and marketing. Students can generally complete certificates in under 40 credits, or in one year or less.
Schools may also confer associate degrees, like an associate of arts (AA) or associate of science (AS). AA degrees focus on art, humanities, and business, while AS degrees are generally for math or science majors. Associate degrees often require 60 credits, or two years of full-time study, to complete. Afterward, graduates can apply to transfer to a bachelor’s degree program at a four-year institution or enter the workforce directly.
Certain community colleges partner with four-year schools to create guaranteed transfer programs. Guaranteed transfer programs promise you admission to a partner school if you meet specific GPA, course, and deadline requirements. Schools may offer workshops to explain transfer program details. Although you are guaranteed admission to a four-year program, you may not be able to select which school you get admitted to.
How Do Online Classes Work at Community College?
Online community colleges may offer asynchronous, synchronous, or hybrid programs, depending upon the college and degree type. Schools may require you to complete an online learning tutorial before enrolling in an online program.
Asynchronous programs allow you to study online at your own pace. You may have set deadlines for assignments or exams. Synchronous programs have set online lecture times, providing less freedom than asynchronous programs.
Hybrid programs require you to complete classwork online and in person. You should live near your community college to attend live courses or assignments. Hybrid programs provide the benefits of flexible online learning with traditional on-campus experiences, like meeting your classmates.
How Much Does Online Community College Cost?
According to the National Center for Education Statistics, public two-year colleges cost an average of $4,000 during the 2022-2023 academic year. This price includes tuition and related fees. However, as an online student, you must also budget for additional costs, including distance learning fees, technological expenses, and textbooks.
If you attend an online community college located in a state you don’t live in, then you may be charged out-of-state tuition, which can be much more costly than in-state tuition. However, some colleges have separate tuition rates for online programs or may even charge in-state tuition to all online learners.
Several state programs offer free community college for eligible individuals, including the following:
- Tennessee Promise: The Tennessee Promise offers to cover community college tuition and fees for Tennessee high school graduates. Individuals must maintain a 2.0 GPA and complete eight hours of community service per semester.
- California College Promise Grant: California waives the enrollment fee for community college students that meet residency and financial need requirements. Students can apply for additional financial aid for textbooks and learning materials through other programs.
- New Mexico Opportunity Scholarship: The New Mexico Opportunity Scholarship offers up to $50 per credit to enrollees who maintain a minimum 2.5 GPA.
5 Tips for Community College Transfers
Given the rising cost of higher education, many students now elect to complete two years at a community college before transferring to a four-year institution. While it’s worth it to save money, these students may face a few unique challenges when leaving their old school, applying to a new one, and getting settled in.
The following tips from college counselor Lindsey Conger can help make the transition easier.
- 1
Make Sure Your Credits Are Transferable
“You can find websites and other tools through your community college and the university you want to transfer to that can help you. Speak with your advisor to make a curriculum plan so you can make your time at community college count.”
- 2
Ask Lots of Questions
“Make sure you know if there is an articulation agreement between your community college and university. Ask if there are any documents you need to make sure your credits transfer, and talk to officials from both schools to ensure [credits] move from one school to the other seamlessly.”
- 3
Get to Know Your Professors
“Your professors can serve as mentors throughout the college admissions process. [They] may have contacts at your new university and can help you make connections; they may also write you letters of recommendation.”
- 4
Earn an Associate Degree
“Completing your associate degree can help make your life easier. A degree can often transfer more easily than individual classes and can also signify that you’ve already completed basic general education requirements, thus negating the need to take them at a four-year university.”
- 5
Seek Out Financial Aid Opportunities.
“There are often scholarships available just for transfer students. Seek those out from your new school, local nonprofits, foundations, and federal/state funding sources to help pay for your education.”
