Navigating Higher Education: An Overview of Two-Year Colleges

In the United States, higher education represents an optional, yet significant, stage of formal learning following secondary education. Often referred to as post-secondary education, third-stage, third-level, or tertiary education, it encompasses stages 5 to 8 on the International ISCED 2011 scale. This level of education is delivered across 3,931 Title IV degree-granting institutions, commonly known as colleges or universities. These institutions vary widely, including public and private universities, research universities, liberal arts colleges, community colleges, and for-profit colleges.

A Historical Perspective

Post-secondary attendance was relatively uncommon through the early 20th century. The Wren Building, erected at the College of William & Mary in 1695, stands as the oldest academic building in the United States. Early colleges were often established by religious denominations to train white, male ministers. Between 1636 and 1776, nine colleges were chartered in Colonial America, now recognized as the colonial colleges.

Besides slavery, violence-backed cession was an aspect of higher education growth. Protestants and Catholics opened hundreds of small denominational colleges in the 19th century. In 1899 they enrolled 46 percent of all US undergraduates. Many closed or merged but in 1905 there were over 500 in operation. Catholics opened several women's colleges in the early 20th century. Schools were small, with a limited undergraduate curriculum based on the liberal arts. Students were drilled in Greek, Latin, geometry, ancient history, logic, ethics and rhetoric, with few discussions and no lab sessions. Originality and creativity were not prized, but exact repetition was rewarded. College presidents typically enforced strict discipline, and upperclassman enjoyed hazing freshman. Many students were younger than 17, and most colleges also operated a preparatory school. There were no organized sports, or Greek-letter fraternities, but literary societies were active. Tuition was low and scholarships were few. The nation's small colleges helped young men make the transition from rural farms to complex urban occupations. These schools promoted upward mobility by preparing ministers and providing towns with a core of community leaders. Elite colleges became increasingly exclusive and contributed little upward social mobility. In some areas, public institutions of higher education were slow to take hold. For instance, although there was general support for expanding access to higher education through public institutions, private colleges and universities successfully hindered the establishment of a public university in Boston, Massachusetts until the 1860s. Most Historically Black Colleges and Universities were established in the South after the American Civil War, often with the assistance of religious missionary organizations based in the northern United States. Protests for civil rights on campus began in the early 20th century, at Shaw University (1919), Fisk University (1924-1925), Howard University (1925) and Hampton Institute (1925, 1927). G.I.

At the beginning of the 20th century, fewer than 1,000 colleges with 160,000 students existed in the US. The number of colleges dramatically increased in waves, during the early and mid-20th century. State universities grew from small institutions of fewer than 1,000 students to campuses with 40,000 more students, with networks of regional campuses around the state. To handle the explosive growth of K-12 education, every state set up a network of teachers' colleges, beginning with Massachusetts in the 1830s. Major new trends included the development of the junior colleges. Junior colleges grew from 20 in number In 1909, to 170 in 1919. By 1922, 37 states had set up 70 junior colleges, enrolling about 150 students each. Meanwhile, another 137 were privately operated, with about 60 students each. Rapid expansion continued in the 1920s, with 440 junior colleges in 1930 enrolling about 70,000 students. Many factors contributed to rapid growth of community colleges. Students parents and businessmen wanted nearby, low-cost schools to provide training for the growing white-collar labor force, as well as for more advanced technical jobs in the blue-collar sphere. Four-year colleges were also growing, albeit not as fast; however, many of them were located in rural or small-town areas away from the fast-growing metropolis. Community colleges continue as open-enrollment, low-cost institutions with a strong component of vocational education, as well as a low-cost preparation for transfer students into four-year schools.

During the 1930s and 1940s, fear for the future of democracy impelled colleges and universities to define general education as preparation for citizenship in democratic society. In response, social scientists engaged in curricular reform, creating new general education courses and experimenting with progressive pedagogical methods. College students were involved in social movements long before the 20th century, but the most dramatic student movements rose in the 1960s. In the 1960s, students organized for civil rights and against the Vietnam War. While a few for-profit colleges originated during Colonial times, these schools became major factors in the 1980s to about 2011, taking advantage of federal loan programs to pay student tuition. For-profit college enrollment, however, has declined significantly since 2011, after several federal investigations.

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Understanding Two-Year Colleges

Some US states offer higher education at two year "colleges" formerly called "community colleges". Community colleges are often two-year colleges. They have open admissions, usually with lower tuition fees than other state or private schools. Graduates earn associate degrees, such as an Associate of Arts (AA). According to National Student Clearinghouse data, community college enrollment has dropped by 2.2 million students since its peak year of 2010-11.

A community college is typically a two-year public institution designed to provide affordable, accessible education for a wide range of students. One of the primary reasons students choose community college is cost. Tuition is often significantly lower than at four-year colleges, making it an appealing option for those looking to minimize student debt.

Community colleges also prioritize flexibility. With part-time schedules, night and weekend classes, and online options, they’re well-suited for working adults, parents, and anyone managing multiple responsibilities. Perhaps most importantly, community colleges are built around access. They usually have open admissions policies, which means students don’t need to meet strict GPA or standardized test requirements to enroll. Serving a diverse population-from first-generation college students to returning adult learners-community colleges often become hubs for community engagement and economic development.

Key Features of Community Colleges:

Open Admissions: Community colleges generally have open admissions policies, making higher education accessible to a broader range of students.
Affordable Tuition: Tuition fees are typically lower at community colleges compared to four-year institutions, reducing the burden of student debt. During the 2020-21 academic year, average published tuition and fees were $3,770 at in-district public 2-year institutions.
Flexible Schedules: Community colleges offer flexible scheduling options, including part-time, evening, and weekend classes, catering to students with diverse needs and commitments.
Associate Degrees: Graduates earn associate degrees, such as an Associate of Arts (AA).
Transfer Opportunities: Community colleges provide a pathway for students to transfer to four-year institutions to complete their bachelor's degrees.

The Role of Community Colleges

Community colleges continue as open-enrollment, low-cost institutions with a strong component of vocational education, as well as a low-cost preparation for transfer students into four-year schools.

Community college lets you explore new subjects, participate in new activities, and build your academic skills. With the additional freedom that comes with being a college student, you’ll want to develop your organizational and time management skills. Pro tip: Building relationships with your professors ensures success in the classroom AND allows them to get to know you better as a person and a student. In the future, you may need a professor or two who are willing to write you a letter of recommendation for a program, scholarship, college, or job application.

It’s never too early to start planning for your future. If transferring to a four-year institution is your ultimate goal, it’s important to enroll in courses that fulfill general education and major requirements. Choosing the right courses will save you time and money and keep you on track for timely graduation.

The Landscape of Higher Education Institutions

The US higher education system consists of academic institutions that vary in mission; public, private nonprofit, or private for-profit status; degrees offered; learning environment; selectivity level; religious affiliation; cost; and other characteristics. Rather than provide a comprehensive overview of the entire system, this section of the report discusses several types of institutions that contribute to education and training in S&E fields. These types of institutions are not mutually exclusive, and some institutions fit multiple categories. Institutions of higher education, particularly some of the types of institutions discussed in this report, are not distributed evenly across states and regions of the country

Types of Institutions:

Public Universities: Public universities are administered by individual states and territories, usually as part of a state university system. Each state supports at least one state university and many support several. Public universities often have large student bodies, with introductory classes numbering in the hundreds, with some undergraduate classes taught by graduate students.
Private Universities: Many private universities exist. Some are secular and others are involved in religious education.
Liberal Arts Colleges: Four-year institutions emphasizing the liberal arts are liberal arts colleges. They traditionally emphasize interactive instruction. They are known for being residential and for having smaller enrollment and lower student-to-faculty ratios than universities. Most are private, although there are public liberal arts colleges.
For-Profit Colleges: For-profit higher education (known as for-profit college or proprietary education) refers to higher education institutions operated by private, profit-seeking businesses.

Challenges and Trends in Higher Education

The higher education landscape is constantly evolving, with institutions facing various challenges and adapting to emerging trends.

Financial Difficulties and Closures

Hundreds of colleges are in financial trouble and many are expected to close or merge, according to research from Ernst & Young. The US Department of Education publishes a monthly list of campus and learning site closings.

"Colleges are closing because they are struggling financially. Schools that are small, schools that are almost entirely dependent on student revenues," Lapovsky says, adding that vulnerable institutions are threatened by a lack of adequate nontuition funding streams.

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Demographics also play a role. means colleges compete for fewer undergraduate students."You look across all institutions and that number is going down, not up," Hentschke says.

Prospective students worried about a college's financial health and the potential for closure should look for red flags such as continually declining enrollment, budget deficits and a school's diminishing endowment, experts say. These details often can be found online in college fact books, or interested students can contact a school directly for the information.

The Rise of Distance Education

Distance education is learning where the teacher and student are separated by time or space. Distance education has been around for more than 100 years, whereas online education is a relatively new phenomenon, mirroring the growth of technologies such as the personal computer and the Internet. Distance education offerings can be delivered through a range of technologies and in a variety of modes: completely distance education, traditional or in-person instruction, and a combination often referred to as hybrid or blended instruction.

Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, distance education in higher education has become much more common, with implications for learning, student experience, instructional quality, and cost. In 2018-19, most colleges and universities (56%) offered both distance education courses and distance education programs.

The Impact of Social Class and Political Polarization

Social class has a profound influence on higher education. The growth of power among right wing groups has been apparent since the mid-2010s. Student protests and clashes between left and right appeared on several US campuses in 2017.

The Value of Higher Education

Earning a college degree commands a substantial wage premium and provides additional benefits to individuals and society. For these reasons, many students and their families invest in higher education.

Higher education has also served as a source for professional credentials, as a vehicle for social mobility, and as a social sorter. The college functions as a 'status marker', "signaling membership in the educated class, and a place to meet spouses of similar status." Especially among students who move away from their families to attend residential four-year colleges, the experience of going away to college is seen as a rite of passage that produces young adults, irrespective of what they might learn in a classroom.

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