Best Online Community Colleges of 2024

Millions of students from diverse racial and socioeconomic backgrounds attend community college every year, taking advantage of an affordable education close to home. The best online community colleges go even further by letting you learn from anywhere with an internet connection, and some offer asynchronous instruction options.

Whether you’re preparing to enter the workforce immediately after graduation or planning to transfer into a four-year program, online community colleges can help you achieve academic and professional success.

Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.

The latest reported data from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) shows that community college students attending an in-state school pay the lowest average tuition and fees of all undergraduates. Their out-of-state peers typically spend more than twice as much to earn a certificate or degree.

Additionally, in-state learners attending a four-year public college pay considerably more for their education, especially as the cost of college has steadily increased over the last several decades.

The cost of attending community college online can provide even further savings. Learning entirely online means you don’t need to worry about commuting to or parking on campus. Your school may also provide extra financial benefits to online learners, such as free e-textbooks.

However, remember that many factors can influence your out-of-pocket costs, such as your financial aid package and other indirect expenses.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that the typical worker with an associate degree earns over 15% more than a professional with only a high school diploma.

Speak with your online community college’s academic advisors to find out which degrees align with well-paying jobs. And check out the following table of high-paying jobs with an associate degree.

One of the potential benefits of enrolling in community college online is that you can explore different schools across the nation. This may lead to opportunities you hadn’t considered, enabling you to embark on a new adventure.

However, if you do want to attend school closer to home, each state has many community colleges with online offerings.

Browse online community college and trade school programs across the United States:

Trade schools, like community colleges, typically offer students the opportunity to earn a degree in two years or less. That said, trade schools are somewhat different from colleges in that they provide more focused training on specific jobs or industries. Community colleges, meanwhile, tend to offer more generalized degrees.

These schools provide focused study on different vocations, such as automotive repair, plumbing, and cosmetology. They are typically government backed or approved, and their credits can often be transferred to other accredited institutions. Students usually receive certificates — rather than degrees — upon completing these programs.

These two-year colleges are similar to trade schools in that they train you for specific careers; however, graduates typically receive associate degrees — rather than certificates — after completing course requirements. Technology-related programs, such as information technology, are common areas of study at technical colleges.

The term “career college” is usually associated with for-profit schools that are not accredited. As a result, credentials earned at these institutions may not be recognized by other schools. Employers may also skip over candidates who hold an unaccredited degree.

Career college programs focus on specific careers, and students can often graduate in nine months to a year.

Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.

If you want to get a two-year degree online, remember that several types of associate degrees are available. Take some time to research the types of associate degrees and find the best one for your academic and career goals.