Welcome to the American Association of Community College’s CC STATS home page.  Here you will find a wide variety of information on community colleges, students who attend our colleges, and our faculty and staff. 

Community colleges are a vital part of the postsecondary education delivery system.  They serve almost half of the undergraduate students in the United States, providing open access to postsecondary education, preparing students for transfer to 4-year institutions, providing workforce development and skills training, and offering noncredit programs ranging from English as a second language to skills retraining to community enrichment programs or cultural activities. 

Globalization is driving changes in our economy, and the need for an educated workforce has never been greater.  The majority of new jobs that will be created by 2014 will require some postsecondary education.  In addition, the demographics of the workforce are changing. As a result, employers increasingly rely on the very students who currently are least likely to complete their education.

Without community colleges, millions of students and adult learners would not be able to access the education they need to be prepared for further education or the workplace. Community colleges often are the access point for education in a town and a real catalyst for economic development. 

Below are some fast facts about U.S. community colleges.  For more in-depth information on community colleges, students who attend community colleges, the faculty and staff who work at community colleges, and the vital role community colleges play in their communities, please visit those sections of this site.

Community College Fast Facts

Number and Type of Colleges:
Total: 1,195
Public: 987
Independent: 177
Tribal: 31

Enrollment:
Total: 11.5 million
Credit: 6.5 million
Noncredit: 5 million
Enrolled full time: 41%
Enrolled part time: 59%

Demographics:
Average age: 29
21 or younger: 43%
22 to 39: 42%
40 or older: 16%
Women: 60%
Men: 40%
Minorities: 35%
Black: 13%
Hispanic: 15%
Asian/Pacific Islander: 6%
Native American: 1%
First generation to attend college: 39%
Single parents: 17%
Non-U.S. citizens: 8%

Community College Students Constitute the Following Percentages of Undergraduates:
All U.S. undergraduates: 46%
First-time freshmen: 41%
Native American: 55%
Asian/Pacific Islander: 46%
Black: 46%
Hispanic: 55%

Employment Status:
Full-time students employed full time: 27%
Full-time students employed part time: 50%
Part-time students employed full time: 50%
Part-time students employed part time: 33%

Percentage of Students Receiving Financial Aid:
Any aid: 47%
Federal grants: 23%
Federal loans: 11%
State aid: 12%

Percentage of Federal Aid Received by Community Colleges:
Pell grants: 34%
Campus-based aid: 9%

Average Annual Tuition and Fees:
Community colleges (public): $2,361
4-year colleges (public): $6,185

Degrees and Certificates Awarded Annually:
Associate degrees: 555,000
Certificates: 295,000
Baccalaureates: awarded by 29 public and 66 independent colleges

Revenue Sources (public colleges):
State funds: 37%
Tuition and fees: 17%
Local funds: 21%
Federal funds: 16%
Other: 9%

On-Campus Housing:
Available at 233 public and 70 independent colleges

Community Colleges at the Forefront

  • Health care: 59% of new nurses and the majority of other new health-care workers are educated at community colleges.

  • Workforce training: 95% of businesses and organizations that employ community college graduates recommend community college workforce education and training programs.

  • International programs: Close to 100,000 international students attend community colleges, about 39% of all international undergraduate students in the United States.

  • Homeland security: Close to 80% of firefighters, law enforcement officers, and EMTs are credentialed at community colleges.

  • Online education:  Students at 41% of public community colleges can earn a degree entirely online and 92% of all institutions offer at least one Internet-based course.

  • Earnings: The average expected lifetime earnings for a graduate with an associate degree are $1.6 million, about $.4 million more than a high school graduate earns.

Data are derived from the most current information available as of January 2008.