National Data

Community Colleges serve close to half of the undergraduate students in the United States, which included more than 6.3 million credit students in the fall of 2007. The comprenhensive mission of community colleges makes them attractive to a broad range of people who seek particular programs or opportunities of special interest. Community colleges are the gateway to postsecondary education for many minority, low income, and first-generation postsecondary education students.

National: 

1,152 community colleges (public 2-year institutions)

198 not-for-profit 2-year institutions (not considered community colleges)

889 private for-profit 2-year institutions (not considered community colleges)

32 tribal colleges

Enrollment:

Fall 2007: 6.38 million credit students:

13% Black-Non-Hispanic

7% Asian or Pacific Islander

15% Hispanic

1% American Indian or Alaska Native

57% White-Non-Hispanic

1% Non-Resident Alien

6% Unknown

Average student age (as of December 31st, 2007) - 27.8 years

Students Receiving Financial Aid (2007-2008):

Any aid - 47.6%

Federal - 27.3%

State - 12.8%

Institution 12.8%

Outside 12.8%

Percentage Receiving Federal Financial Aid of the Following Types:

Pell 21.1%

Campus-based 5.1%

Stafford 10.2%

Other 3.0%

Tuition and Fees at 2-year Public Institutions:

$2,296 (for 2007-08)

Degrees and Certificates:

Associate's degree - 516,420

Certificates of less-than 1-year - 197016

Certificates of 1 but less than 2-years 130560

Certificates of 2 but less than 4-years 10590

Total Certificates 338166

Source: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), 2007. Figures are based on calculations by the Community College Research Center.