Top Careers You can Land with a Two-Year Degree

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

Community college campuses were home to many festive gatherings this holiday season, getting in on the holiday action. From festive concerts to service projects designed for the season, these schools show their students what the winter months are. Check out the fun, festive, family-oriented events available at some community colleges around the country.

Shop ‘til You Drop at Community College Craft Fairs

Arts and crafts abound at community colleges this time of year, offering Christmas shoppers the opportunity to pick up something truly unique for friends and family members. Auburn Pub reports that Cayuga Community College in Auburn, New York, recently hosted its annual Holiday Festival Craft Show, which features handmade clothing and accessories, holiday decorations, and freshly baked goods. The event marked its 50th year in 2025, with live entertainment and food vendors to keep everyone in the holiday spirit.

St. Charles Community College in Missouri also hosted a holiday craft bazaar, according to a report on the school’s website. The show, which was free to the public, was held at the gym on the community college campus. Vendors offered an array of handmade goods, and some even provided free demonstrations of their craft. Shoppers found a wide selection of jewelry, quilts, photography, and other craft items. All of the crafters featured at the bazaar can also be found on Etsy, an e-commerce site for artisans and crafters to sell

Community college can be a busy time for students, whether they are adults juggling work and family responsibilities, or recent high school graduates adjusting to the next phase of their academic careers. The good news is there are many resources available to help community college students succeed, and many are as close as their laptops. Take a peek at 10 valuable online resources that community college students can use to their benefit.

Equipping Students for Online Adventures

Before you can take full advantage of all the wonderful online services available to community college students today, you need to be sure your computer is up to the task. There is even online services for this purpose, helping students outfit their PCs and laptops with all the hardware and software necessary to connect with their schools. For example, Richland Community College in Illinois offers remote tools to help students with both Windows and Mac systems get connected.

This video explains how to take online courses at community college.

Obtaining and Using Administrative Information

Navigating the administrative maze of higher education has become significantly easier with online tools to guide the way. At Edmunds Community College in Washington, students can use their computers to do everything from registering for classes to ordering transcripts. In addition, the school’s website offers students the opportunity to check out the school calendar, upcoming school events and the latest

When most people dream of a high-paying profession, the thought of years of schooling also comes to mind. The perception is that in order to earn more, you must study more to prepare for your career. However, plenty of six-figure jobs are available to those with a community college degree as well. While not all of these positions earn a high salary as a starting point, many working in the profession can work their way up to six figures through dedication and hard work. Check out these six-figure jobs you can land with a community college degree.

Air Traffic Controller

While many air traffic controllers launch their careers with a four-year degree, community college options also appear for this position. Community College of Beaver County offers a two-year program in air traffic control that prepares students for the job of control tower operator. The school boasts a student-staffed control tower to give students on-the-job training while earning their degrees. According to CB Salary, the average annual salary for an air traffic controller is $109,850.

This video reports on air traffic controller training at Community College of Baltimore County, Catonsville.

Personal Trainer

Those with a passion for fitness and health may find their calling as a personal trainer. According to KDVR, personal trainers that are willing to work hard and provide flexibility in scheduling to their clients can easily make a six-figure

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

College students learn plenty in the years they spend on campus. But do the lessons learned at school prepare them for professional life after their studies? Maybe not, according to at least one community college, which has plans to give its students a healthy dose of work readiness skills at the same time they are earning their degree.

Workplace Readiness Certificates

Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College has provided students with many of the skills necessary to land jobs in the local workforce. Next year, the school will offer a new type of certification – a workplace readiness certificate. Students will earn this certificate by demonstrating “soft skills” that employers tend to look for as well, such as punctuality, teamwork, and time management. According to Inside Higher Ed, those skills will also begin to play a role in the grades students earn in some of their classes at the college.

In 2026, Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College continues to emphasize workplace readiness through its WorkKeys Curriculum and ACT WorkKeys assessments, which can lead to the National Career Readiness Certificate.

The North Carolina school is leaving nothing to chance as it prepares faculty to evaluate students for the skills employers are looking for. The school has designed a template to assist professors in assessing primary workplace skills, including:

• Communication – use of oral and written skills to clearly communicate thoughts and ideas
• Effort