Choosing a School

Though many people assume that community college is somehow less of a "real" school than traditional colleges and universities, students at a community college must still go through the admissions process. Community colleges each have their own set of requirements for prospective students, which vary depending on a number of factors. The size of the school, its location, whether it has selective admissions programs, and the programs offered will all affect the admissions process.

Each school is unique in terms of its requirements; the same basic rules apply to most college applicants. You'll generally need a high school transcript or equivalent credential. Some community colleges may ask for standardized test scores for scholarship consideration or specific academic programs, though many now have test-optional or open-admission policies. You may also be required to submit letters of recommendation or a personal essay, particularly for competitive or limited-enrollment programs. The admissions team will also want to know about any extracurricular activities you've been involved in because they are looking to create a diverse, well-rounded student body. Keep reading to learn some simple tips for strengthening your community college application.

This video explains how to impress colleges with activities on your application.

What Do Admissions Officers Look For?

When a college admissions officer looks over your application, there are several things they're going to look for. First of all, they're going to look at your high school transcript but, despite

This article has been updated to reflect 2026 data and recent developments.

For many high school students, attending college is the next logical step after graduation. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, the U.S. higher education landscape includes thousands of degree-granting institutions, including two-year and four-year colleges. With so many options out there, making a decision can be quite difficult. If you want to make sure that you end up going to the right school, take the time to think about your future before you start shopping for schools, then consider each option in depth, focusing on three categories in particular: academics, student life, and finances.

Before You Start Looking

Though many students look at it this way, college is not just something you do after high school. It is a wonderful opportunity to shape your future and it is an important choice that will affect the rest of your life. This being the case, you need to do some thinking and planning before you actually start shopping for schools so you have some idea about what you are looking for. First, think about your professional goals for the future. What kind of job do you see yourself having ten years down the line? Next, take that idea and delve a little deeper into the industry. Are there any requirements or certifications you will need and how stable is a job in that industry? The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics provides current

Choosing a college is a major decision that will affect at least the next two to four years of your life, depending on which school and which program you choose. Many students attend college right out of high school simply because it seems like the logical next step. With college costs, housing expenses, and career expectations continuing to shift in 2026, however, it is important to think through this decision systematically before you make your choice.

Here are the top ten questions to ask yourself before going to college, as well as some important questions to ask when it comes to making your decision. Students who are still comparing options may also find Community College Review’s Choosing the Right Community College helpful as they narrow their list.

This video explains why community college is a good choice.

Ten Questions to Ask Yourself Before Going to College

Before you even decide to attend college, there are some important questions that you need to ask yourself. Your answers to these questions will help you determine if the timing is right for you to attend college or if you might be better off waiting a few years. These questions will also help you narrow down your choice for a major so you can choose the best college to fit your interests.

• Do you know what you want to study? If you don’t already have some idea of what

In the face of many difficulties, including massive budget cuts, low graduation rates, and students who need an abundance of guidance and support to stay on track, community colleges throughout the nation are finding ways to keep their doors open and graduate students on time. No school has been more successful in making the most of a less-than-ideal situation than Rio Salado College.

Rio Salado is part of the Maricopa Community College District, a ten-campus system in Phoenix that offers over 10,000 courses for its 250,000 students on campus and online. It is one of the largest higher education institutions in the United States. Rio Salado accounts for roughly 60,000 of the system's students, many of whom attend part-time to accommodate work schedules and family needs due to economic disadvantages.

Students who come from poverty have the odds stacked against them about graduation. The graduation rate for community college students in the United States is at most 40 percent, but that number falls drastically for poor and working-class students. According to the New York Times, only about one-quarter of first-year college students born into families in the bottom half of the income spectrum will go on to get an undergraduate degree within six years. Yet, 90 percent of students in the top one-quarter of the income spectrum will obtain their degree. Socioeconomic status will significantly determine whether a student gets a degree.

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In the summer of 2013, the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC), the accrediting agency responsible for oversight of California’s massive community college system, came under fire for withdrawing its accreditation of the City College of San Francisco. Among the ACCJC’s findings was that the college failed to balance its budget and was deficient in staffing and facility repairs. Upon making their recommendation for revocation available to the public, ACCJC faced a firestorm of criticism, with supporters of the college claiming that the commission’s decision was fueled by political bias.

Additional criticism has since been leveled against the organization for not following its own policies during the accreditation process. In fact, ACCJC has been reprimanded by the U.S. Department of Education for failing to meet federal guidelines in its review of the City College of San Francisco. Furthermore, ACCJC is accused of violating conflict of interest laws by appointing the husband of the commission’s president to an accreditation review team.

What has resulted is a nationwide spotlight on the methods by which community colleges and other institutions of higher learning gain accreditation. Critics of the current system contend that without federal oversight – accrediting organizations are self-regulated – commissions are apt to abuse power and work under a cloak of secrecy. While these allegations are specific to ACCJC, the criticisms of its policies and procedures have been echoed nationwide. Together with a