Many community colleges are open early in the morning until late at night. Because they are usually funded by the state or local tax money, they keep their doors open to all students. Everyone living in the area served by the community college is eligible and welcome to attend. Because they serve so many people with so many different educational needs, community colleges offer lots of different kinds of programs. Thus, there are several kinds of programs that might be of interest to international students.
Community colleges offer the first two years of a normal four-year bachelor's degree program.
Thus, students who attend a community college can prepare themselves to transfer to a four-year institution by completing the lower division courses at the community college instead of at a university. After two years, students can apply to the four-year college or university to complete their degree. International students may also be interested in the technical programs and job-training programs that community colleges offer. Community colleges also provide basic-skills courses for students who need help with reading, writing or math. These students may need special preparation for their jobs or in order to continue their education.