Community colleges are two-year colleges that enable you to start on a bachelor's degree. You can take your first two years at a community college and then transfer to a four-year university to finish. Students at two-year schools may graduate with an associate’s degree or a certificate. Certificate programs are very specific and graduates from a certificate program tend to go directly into the workforce after graduation.
Students choose to attend a two year school for the financial advantage, it's a great option for students looking to start careers sooner, and for those who would like to improve their academic record to get into a four year school. Community colleges offer flexible scheduling options and provide significant academic support. Designed with working students in mind, two-year schools are known for their convenient part-time and evening classes.
Application Process
To apply, candidates must have a high school diploma or the equivalent and complete an application. Two-year colleges do not require standardized tests or college essays. The timeline for applying to community college is somewhat different than four-year schools as well. Students can decide to apply as late as the end of senior year. Students planning on attending community college should apply for the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Half-time enrollment qualifies students for grants, loans, and scholarships from the federal government. The community colleges themselves will sometimes offer scholarships to prospective students as well.
An additional advantage to the community college system is that students who are in good academic standing, may automatically transfer to a Massachusetts public university.
Massachusetts has 15 Community Colleges, each with multiple campuses and satellite locations that offer unique opportunities for the local communities they are a part of. Each college provides open access to high quality and affordable academic programs.
The typical 4-year college program offers two types of bachelor's degrees: Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) and Bachelor of Science (B.S.). A smaller institution that usually offers undergraduate degrees is considered a college. An institution that offers both undergraduate and graduate degrees is considered a university.
A college offers a relatively simple institutional structure. It does not have multiple levels of study nor divisions within its program of study. More importantly, all of its resources are devoted to undergraduate education.
Universities are typically larger and always more complex institutions comprised of degree-granting entities at different levels of study: four-year undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral/professional degree. Each level includes distinct colleges or programs defined by curricula that are specific to that college. Some universities make graduate level coursework available to undergraduate students.
At both colleges and universities students can opt to major, double-major, minor, double-minor, and/or concentrate.
Public colleges are government-funded - many four year public schools are often called "State Schools" (for example the University of Massachusetts and Worcester State University); two year public schools are often called "Community Colleges" (like Middlesex Community College or Bunker Hill Community College). These schools receive funding from the government and state and are less expensive for in-state students. Private schools do not receive state funding, and rely on tuition and private contributions. Though often costlier, private schools may offer generous financial aid.