U.S. Community College
Among families considering studying in the United States, community colleges are increasingly seen as a cost effective option. Centered around two-year degree programs, U.S. community colleges offer affordable tuition and established transfer agreements that help students transition smoothly to top four year universities such as UCLA and UC Berkeley.
1. What Is a Community College?
Higher education in the United States mainly consists of four year universities and two year community colleges.
Community colleges offer two year programs that lead to an Associate of Arts (AA) or Associate of Science (AS) degree.
In addition to academic programs, community colleges provide technical and vocational training closely connected to local high schools, community organizations, and employers.
Many community colleges have established Transfer Admission Guarantee (TAG) agreements with four-year universities. These agreements allow students to transfer to partner universities upon meeting specific academic requirements, enabling them to earn a bachelor’s degree through the 2+2 pathway two years at a community college followed by two years at a university.
2. Why Choose a U.S. Community College?
1. Lower Admission Requirements
Applying to U.S. community colleges is generally more accessible. Most schools only require a TOEFL score (some also accept IELTS), and some even allow students to enroll without submitting test scores. Compared to four year universities that often require SAT or ACT scores, community colleges have much simpler admission criteria. When transferring to a university, students usually only need to submit their community college transcripts.
2. A Stepping Stone to Top Universities
Community colleges in the U.S. are often seen as a direct path to prestigious universities. Many have Transfer Admission Guarantee (TAG) agreements with top institutions like UCLA, UC Berkeley, and the University of Washington, ensuring students have access to high quality education. Credits earned at community colleges are typically transferable to these universities.
Compared to high school graduates applying directly as freshmen, community college transfer applicants often face less competitive admissions.
3. More Affordable Tuition
Tuition at community colleges is about 60% to 70% lower than that of traditional four year universities. By following the 2+2 pathway two years at a community college and two years at a university students can save a significant amount on their overall education costs.
3. Admission Requirements for Community Colleges
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Age: Must be at least 18 years old (some colleges accept students as young as 17).
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English Proficiency: TOEFL or IELTS scores are commonly accepted. （Some colleges allow students to take an on-campus placement test instead.）
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Academic Records: High school transcript and graduation certificate.
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Standardized Tests: SAT or ACT scores are not required.
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Proof of Financial Support: Documentation showing the ability to cover tuition and living expenses during the period of study.
4. Community College Course Planning
Community colleges typically offer small class sizes, fostering close interaction between instructors and students. The courses are diverse and emphasize a balance between theoretical knowledge and practical skills.
The curriculum focuses on foundational knowledge and hands-on experience, tailored to meet each student’s individual needs.
Below are the main types of programs offered at U.S. community colleges:
- Two Year Associate Degree Programs:
These programs include the Associate of Arts (AA) and Associate of Science (AS) degrees. Upon completing these degrees, students can transfer to a four-year university through the 2+2 pathway, spending two years at a community college followed by two years at a university to earn a bachelor’s degree.
- Certificate and Vocational Training Programs:
Primarily short-term courses designed to develop students’ professional skills in specific career fields.
- Adult Continuing Education Programs
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Transfer Programs
These programs assist students who have completed their first one or two years of college coursework by providing foundational courses and support with transfer documentation.
5. Community College Expenses
1. Tuition Fees
The average annual tuition fee at a typical U.S. four-year university is approximately $27,091. In contrast, community colleges charge an average tuition of about $8,705 per year. Over two years, this difference can save students more than one million Taiwanese dollars.
2. Living Expenses
The average cost of living in the U.S. is around $12,000 per year, though this varies by state. Overall, the significant tuition savings at community colleges substantially reduce the financial burden on families compared to studying in other English-speaking countries.
6. Transfer Admission Guarantee (TAG)
Transfer Admission Guarantee (TAG) is an agreement between California’s community colleges and the University of California (UC) system.
Students who meet specific academic requirements during their two years at a community college can secure guaranteed admission to participating UC campuses through the TAG program. This allows them to complete their bachelor’s degree by following the 2+2 pathway two years at a community college followed by two years at a university.
California area
TAG Partner Universities in California:
| California Community Colleges | TAG Partner UC Campuses |
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Washington State region
Other states also offer guaranteed transfer admission programs from community colleges to four-year universities. Below is information for Washington State:
| Washington State Community Colleges | Partner Universities |
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New York State region
Below is information for New York State:
| New York State Community Colleges | Partner Universities |
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Valour Success Stories
From Community College to Top Universities: Success Stories
R originally planned to apply to art universities in the U.S. During her senior year of high school, she prepared a portfolio and received several offers. However, through deep self-reflection, she realized that art was not the path she truly wanted to pursue. With limited time, budget constraints, and little experience in applying to general universities, R faced a difficult turning point.
Valour stepped in and recommended that she start her journey at a community college a more flexible and affordable option.
R was eventually accepted into Diablo Valley College in California. Immersed in a diverse and open minded environment, she rediscovered her passion and redefined her academic goals.
Two years later, R successfully transferred to UCLA, ranked 29th globally, and was admitted to the Business Economics program marking a major milestone in her educational journey.
This is a situation many Taiwanese students can relate to. Chang was a student from the traditional Taiwanese high school system and was admitted to the Japanese Studies program at Soochow University through Taiwan’s college entrance exam. After studying for two years, he realized the major wasn’t aligned with his true interests.
Although he had always dreamed of studying at a top university in the United States, he felt uncertain about how to move forward. He didn’t have standout academic grades, had no experience with U.S. college applications, and was unsure how to bridge the gap between Taiwan’s higher education system and that of top American universities.
After discussing his goals with a Valour advisor, he decided to begin his journey at De Anza College, a well known community college in California, as a strategic stepping stone to the UC system.
Two years later, thanks to his excellent academic performance, he successfully transferred to UC Davis, ranked 28th globally, and was admitted to the Economics program.
Reflecting on his journey, Chang shared:
“I’m really glad I chose the community college path. It gave me space to breathe as I adjusted to studying abroad for the first time, and helped me gradually adapt to a new way of learning and living. I’m especially grateful to Valour for recognizing my strengths and weaknesses, understanding my personality and long term goals, and designing a tailored application strategy that helped me achieve my dream of studying abroad.
(To protect the student’s privacy, Valour has used alternative images.)
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