Post-secondary education comes with various benefits, including personal and career growth, career longevity, greater job satisfaction, higher earning potential, and lower employment rates.

The proper education and training can make your career rewarding and fulfilling. And, with the rise of career colleges and community colleges, students have more options and possibilities than ever before on how to pursue their education.

For example, if you know what you want to do, you may not need a traditional, four-year liberal arts degree. Or, if you’re struggling to decide on your major, you may alternatively benefit from a more extended degree plan as you explore different fields of study.

Let’s explore the difference between a career college and a community college to help you decide which type of higher education best suits your needs.

What is a Career College?

A career college offers career-focused degree programs to prepare students for specific careers. They provide relevant and specific skills and training and fulfill the educational requirements in a particular industry.

Generally speaking, career colleges do not require students to take general education and core classes like math or literature. Instead, they focus on courses directly related to the student’s future career.

And while core classes are not taken, students still cultivate critical thinking, ethics, and other skills to ensure they are well-rounded and valuable to employers.

Standard programs at career-focused colleges include:

• Registered Nursing (RN)
• Criminal Justice
• Manufacturing and Machining
• Mechatronics
• Business Administration
• Dental Hygiene
• Public Health
• Public Safety
• Funeral Service
• Welding

Did you know that Goodwin University is considered a career college? Learn more about our degree and certificate programs today!

What is the Learning Environment at a Career College?

Career colleges often offer students experience in and outside the classroom through teacher-to-student instruction, hands-on and in-field training and experience, and career placement services.

By learning and then practicing that instruction, students gain increased levels of knowledge, understanding, and competency under the guided supervision of their instructors.

Faculty and staff members at career-focused colleges are industry leaders with years of knowledge and hands-on experience in their fields. Plus, students in these programs often know precisely what they want to do and work hard towards their goals. This means students are surrounded by like-minded peers to build valuable personal and professional connections.

How Long Are Programs at Career Colleges?

The length of a program at a career college varies depending on the college and the program. However, programs at these institutions can often be completed in one to two years compared to a traditional four-year bachelor’s degree. Additionally, these programs cost less since students are enrolled for less time.

At Goodwin University, for example, all types and levels of programs are offered. Depending on the program, students can earn a certificate, associate degree, bachelor’s degree, and even master’s degree.

We also offer flexible online, on-campus, and hybrid format degree and certificate programs with evening and weekend classes available. All to make it easier for students to pursue their dream careers on their own terms and schedules.

What is a Community College?

Community colleges are higher education institutions with academic programs that lead to an associate degree, certificate, or diploma. These types of degrees prepare students to enter the workforce or enroll in bachelor’s degree programs.

These institutions offer degrees in academic and vocational subjects where students study disciplines and take courses in English, history, economics, sociology, mathematics, and biology.

Community colleges also might have transfer programs toward four-year degree institutions, and similar to career colleges, they may offer occupational programs and one and two-year programs of study.

What is the Learning Environment at a Community College?

Where career colleges focus on learning and doing, community colleges tend to be more theory-based through discussions and lectures. Students spend more time in the classroom listening and discussing with the faculty and fellow students.

Faculty and staff are still highly qualified experts in their field, but many adjunct professors may teach at other universities, making it hard to schedule time to meet with them. And unlike teachers at four-year institutions, they often do not spend their time doing research or publishing scholarly articles.

Lastly, students at community colleges may not always know what they want to study or do for a career. Which means it could take longer to find a group of peers to connect and build relationships with.

How Long Are Programs at Community Colleges?

Typically, community college programs are two years long, and many students will opt to transfer to a four-year institution to complete a four-year bachelor’s degree.

Two-year associate degrees often include general education courses that introduce a specific subject and give it preparatory coverage to build upon through future classes. Students gain a general overview of topics rather than a deep dive into career-focused programs.

And programs at community colleges often require non-major electives, which can cost students more time and money and sometimes have little benefit to their future careers.

Career College vs. Community College: Which One Should Students Choose?

Choosing between a career college and a community college is an important and personal decision. Students should consider their personal and career goals, interests, and skills, as well as the time commitment and cost of the programs they are interested in.

If students know the career they want and want to maximize the time and money spent in school, a career college with a career-focused degree or certificate program would be the best fit.

However, if students want more time to explore a variety of courses and career options and the freedom to pursue a bachelor’s degree at another institution, a community college may be the right choice.

Contact admissions and our support services team to learn more about our flexible and affordable career-focused degree and certificate programs and financial aid options (scholarships, grants, federal loans, work-study jobs, etc.).

We are here to get you through college and into a great career!