Types of Colleges

Two-Year Community or Junior Colleges

A two-year college offers you a degree after two years of full-time study. Four out of 10 graduating high school students start their college careers at community colleges.

Attending a community college has lots of advantages.

• Tuition and fees at public community colleges are less than half of those at public four-year colleges and about a tenth of those at private four-year colleges.
• The faculty at community colleges tends to focus more on teaching than research, which means you'll get more help. And classes are usually smaller , so you'll get more personal attention from your teachers.
• Community colleges are good places to explore fields that interest you before committing to a major. You'll save money by paying less than you would at a four-year school while exploring your options.
• Taking classes at a community college can help improve your GPA. Community colleges have an open-door admissions policy — all students are accepted regardless of past academic performance.
• Since many communities have community colleges, you can save money by living at home.

Careers you could have with an Associate's Degree.

Public and Private Four-Year Colleges and Universities

A four-year college usually offers a bachelor’s degree in the arts or sciences once you've completed a program of study. 

Universities are generally large and offer many majors.

State colleges and universities are usually less expensive than private colleges and universities. State colleges are usually large, as well.

Private colleges are generally more expensive, but tend to be smaller and may offer more personal attention. There are many types of private colleges including women’s colleges, men’s colleges, religious colleges and military colleges.

Don’t exclude more expensive colleges from your list. They often have many grants and scholarships available.

Careers you could have with a Bachelor’s Degree.

Vocational/Trade/Technical Schools

Vocational schools, also known as trade or technical schools, teach skills necessary to perform a particular job.

Vocational schools offer a variety of programs that are two years or less. Typically you earn a certificate or diploma for a skill or trade once you've completed a program of study.

Check out careers that you could have with vocational school training.

Online Classes and Degrees

Many colleges offer online classes that may be taken as part of a program. These classes provide some flexibility in your schedule.

More and more completely online degrees are offered by online universities, traditional colleges and universities, and community colleges.

Check out popular degrees offered at many online universities.