Usually smaller and doesn't put as much emphasis on research. Typically, engineering programs at colleges feature a strong liberal arts component. Offers engineering programs at minimal cost to students. In return, students agree to serve, upon graduation, a specified term of service in the armed forces. There are a total of 1,473 community colleges in the U.S. which serve 45 percent of the nation's more than 12 million undergraduates.
Community colleges are a very important part of the overall engineering education system.
You may find that a community college is a place which will provide you with a more supportive environment in which to mature and develop before transferring to a four-year institution. Most employers and graduate schools prefer applicants who have earned a degree from an ABET-accredited program because accreditation ensures that the program follows national standards of quality for faculty, curricula, students, administration, facilities, and institutional commitment. Attending an accredited program also makes transferring credits to other institutions easier and allows graduates to take the examinations necessary to become a professional engineer. Focus your search on ABET-accredited programs. This will also reduce your search time quite a bit.