Number of Institutions

• Across the United States there are 1,655 community colleges. Of these, 1,047 are public institutions and 415 private. (Digest of Education Statistics, 2001, Table 244)
• In 2000-01 the states with the largest number of public community colleges were California, Texas, North Carolina, Illinois, and New York. (Digest of Education Statistics, 2001, Table 245)

Admissions

• In 1999-2000, 62% of public community colleges had an open admissions policy, compared to 7.5% of public 4-year colleges. (Digest of Education Statistics, 2001, Table 312)

Enrollment

• In the fall of 1999, 47% of all students enrolled in public institutions were enrolled at community colleges. (Digest of Education Statistics, 2001, Table 170)
• The total 1999 fall enrollment at both public and private community colleges was slightly over 5,590,000 students. (Digest of Education Statistics, 2001, Table 173)
• Of the almost 5.6 million students enrolled 2.3 million were men and 3.2 million were women. (Digest of Education Statistics, 2001, Table 177)

Persistence

• Fifteen percent of students enrolled in school with the purpose of attaining an associate degree in 1995 attained their goal by 1998, while 6% had earned a certificate and others were still enrolled in school. (The Condition of Education , 2001, Table 27-1)
• Twenty-three percent of those beginning community college in 1989-90 transferred to a 4-year institution. Of those who transferred to a 4-year institution, 38% completed an associate degree before transferring. (The Condition of Education, 1998, Supplemental Table 11-1)
• The higher a student's socioeconomic status (SES), the more likely that student transferred to a 4-year institution: 35%of high SES students transferred, compared to 21% of middle SES and 7% of low SES students. (The Condition of Education, 1998, Supplemental Table 11-1)

Degrees Earned

• In the 1999-00 school year the number of Associate Degrees conferred at public community colleges was 411,633. Sixty-three percent of these degrees were awarded to women and 37% to men. (Digest of Education Statistics, 2001, Table 170)
• California, New York, Florida, Texas and Illinois awarded the largest number of Associate Degrees accounting for 42% of all Associate Degrees awarded in the U.S. during the 1999-00 school year. (Digest of Education Statistics, 2001, Table 248)
• In 1999-00, 73% of Associate Degree recipients were White, 10.9% Black, 9.3% Hispanic, 5% Asian/Pacific Islander, and 1.2% American Indian. (Digest of Education Statistics, Table 265)
• The majority of degrees were awarded in the following fields, in this order:
  • Liberal arts and sciences, general studies
  • Business management and administrative services
  • Health professions and related fields
  • Engineering related technologies
  • Computer and information sciences
  (Digest of Education Statistics, 2001, Table 253)

Tuition

• During the 2000-01 school year, tuition and fees at public community colleges averaged $1,416. There was an increase of $100 from the 1999-00 school year. (Digest of Education Statistics, 2001, Table 318)

Expenditures

• On average, community colleges spend $7,020 per full-time student with 3.9% allocated to scholarships. (Digest of Education Statistics, 2001, Table 351)