2024 Best Online Community Colleges

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In the ever-evolving landscape of the US economy, we’ve witnessed a seismic shift over the past few decades. Traditional manufacturing and industrial jobs have made way for a dynamic, professional, and tech-driven workforce. Amidst this transformation, community colleges have emerged as the unsung heroes, relentlessly equipping working adults with the skills needed to thrive in this new era of work. But here’s the game-changer: online community college degree programs. They’re not just an innovation; they’re the innovation of the century.

For those hardworking adults already entrenched in their careers or who simply can’t afford to hit pause on their job commitments, online courses are the golden ticket. Imagine sculpting your education around your work schedule, attending classes and tackling coursework at the most unconventional hours, all at your own convenience. It’s a path to enhancing your qualifications for that coveted promotion or career advancement, all without having to make the daunting sacrifices you might expect. Welcome to a brighter, more accessible future of education!

Featured Programs

Why Go To Online Community Colleges?

Community college has long been an important stepping stone for students of all kinds, from low income and rural students, to working adults who want to improve their career prospects at a low cost. Today, many community colleges offer fully online programs that are ideal for nontraditional online students – affordable, convenient, and high in value. Online students can transfer their credits to a 4-year college, or just take a course or two at a time to increase their knowledge and skills. Nearly all community colleges offer articulation agreements with colleges and universities to transfer. 

The mission of the community college is to make career, technical, and professional education accessible and affordable for the most people possible. Open admissions and low tuition rates help, but many community colleges have realized that to meet their demand in the modern world, fully online degree programs are a must. Offering online degree programs not only increases their reach; it allows community colleges to meet immediate needs in the labor force quickly, often with one-year diplomas or certificates.

Our Ranking Methodology 

At Value Colleges, we’re dedicated to helping you find the best online community colleges in America. To do this, our team of editors conducts thorough research on accredited community colleges that offer a minimum of three fully online degree programs. We evaluate these colleges based on several important factors, including tuition costs, student satisfaction, and graduate salary outcomes.

Our rankings methodology is designed to provide you with valuable insights, ensuring that you can make an informed decision when choosing the right online community college for your educational and career goals.

1. Northcentral Technical College         

Northcentral Technical College offers a variety of associates degrees and technical diplomas that can be earned in one to two years. Northcentral Technical College is recognized to be one of the best online community colleges in Wisconsin and offers more than fifty online associate degree, technical diploma, and certificate programs. The associate degree business programs offered by Northcentral Technical College have received accreditation from the ACBSP – the Accreditation Council of Busines Schools & Programs. A number of Northcentral Technical College’s two-year degree programs are a part of articulation agreements with four-year universities to facilitate the transfer of earned credits.

Founded as an industrial school in 1912, Northcentral Technical College (Northcentral) now operates six campuses in Wittenberg, Wausau, Spencer, Medford, Phillips, and Antigo. The school’s small city campus is home to about 6,050 students. 

Highlight: Northcentral Technical College offers online students an impressive 12 to 1 student to faculty ratio.

Online Learning at School Website

2. Minnesota State Community and Technical College  

Minnesota State Community and Technical College is a two-year school located in multiple locations in Minnesota. As one of the best online community colleges, Minnesota State Community and Technical College offers more than two dozen online programs that include associate of arts, associate in fine arts, associate in science, and associate in applied science, plus various diploma and certificate programs. Minnesota State Community and Technical College is renowned for its unique programs in equine science, sign language, and entrepreneurship, to name a few.

Minnesota State Community and Technical College (MSCTC) was founded in 2003 and is a multiple campus school with four campuses and a robust distance learning platform that offers a variety of program options. The school’s campuses (and online platform) are home to more than 8,900 students. 

Highlight: Minnesota State Community and Technical College was established by a merger of several local schools.

Online Learning: School Website

3. Minnesota West Community and Technical College

Minnesota West Community & Technical College is recognized to be, according to the Aspen Institute, one of 150 best online community colleges in the nation. Minnesota West Community and Technical College offer about 1.5 dozen associate degree programs through the school’s eCampus, plus a variety of diploma and certificate programs. Online students earning one of Minnesota West Community & Technical College’s associate degrees can transfer the earned credits to one of the schools in the Minnesota state system. Online programs include accounting, business, science, computers, education, health, pharmacy, nursing, and liberal arts, to name a few.

Minnesota West Community & Technical College (Minnesota West) was founded in 1997 and is a multi-campus community college that maintains five campuses across the southwestern portion of Minnesota, plus a few learning facilities in Redwood Falls, Marshall, and Luverne. 

Highlight: Minnesota West Community & Technical College’s campus and online platform is home to nearly 3,500 students.

Online Learning: School Website

4. Fox Valley Technical College              

Fox Valley Technical College is recognized to be the largest technical school in the Wisconsin tech school system. In addition, Fox Valley Technical College is one of the best online community colleges offering more than 250 associate degree, certificate, and/or technical diploma programs, many of which are available entirely online. Online students can select a program in business, accounting, general studies, construction, public safety, education, health, marketing, information technology, or manufacturing. In addition, Fox Valley Technical College provides students with global education opportunities&

Established in 1912 as a state-sponsored technical college, Fox Valley Technical College (FVTC) operates multiple campuses in Grand Chute, Wautoma, Greenville, Chilton, Clintonville, Oshkosh, and Waupaca. The college’s campuses and online platform serve about 49,850 students each year. 

Highlight: Fox Valley Technical College operates a flight school, aviation maintenance, and electronics program at the Oshkosh campus and the nearby Wittman Airport.

Online Learning: School Website

5. Alexandria Technical & Community College 

Alexandria Technical & Community College offers one of Minnesota’s best online community colleges as it offers some of the highest graduation and placement rates in the state. Alexandria Technical & Community College offers nearly a dozen associate (AA or AS) degree programs which are all available entirely online, and many of which offer seamless transitions to a four-year school. Additionally, Alexandria Technical & Community College offers various online certificate and diploma programs. Online students can select from programs in business, health, computers, history, law enforcement, medicine, social work, psychology, and paralegal studies, to name a few.

Alexandria Technical & Community College (ATCC) was established in 1961 and is recognized to be the first two0year school in the state to receive accreditation from the HLC. The school’s campus and online platform is home to about 3,900 students, with about half studying full-time. 

Highlight: Alexandria Technical & Community College is affiliated with Minnesota State University.

Online Learning: School Website

6. Northwest Iowa Community College      

Northwest Iowa Community College is one of the best online community colleges according to SR Education (2018). NICC offers students on-campus, hybrid and online certificate, diploma, and associate degree programs in the areas of business, EMT, health, graphic/web design, accounting, and information technology, to name a few. Graduates with associate degrees from Northwest Iowa Community College have the option to transfer to four-year schools with accredited credits. Additionally, Northwest Iowa Community College offers a unique virtual textbook program that helps online students save money and helps protect the environment.

Northwest Iowa Community College (Northwest Iowa) was established in the mid-1960s and is a member of the state’s best community colleges consortium. The school’s enrollment in credit programs is approximately 1,950 students, but the annual student enrollment is approximately 28,000 for all programs offered. 

Highlight: Northwest Iowa Community College’s campus is located in the north and western section of the state and covers more than 250 acres.

Online Learning: School Website

7. Lake Area Technical College     

Lake Area Technical College is an Aspen Award-winning school that offers more than thirty academic degree and diploma/certificate programs on the school’s Watertown campus or through Lake Area Technical College’s distance learning platform. As one of the best community colleges, Lake Area Technical College offers e-degrees in the areas of agriculture, business, law, finance, nursing, and computer information systems, to name a few. Lake Area Technical College also boasts a graduate placement rate of ninety-nine percent! Lake Area Technical College is recognized as a gold-member military-friendly school and an Aspen Prize Award Winner.

Lake Area Technical College (LATI) is a public community school that is also a space-grant institution of higher education. Established in the mid-1960s, Lake Area Technical Institute’s rural campus serves about 2,150 students. 

Highlight: In 2017, Lake Area Technical College was honored as an Aspen Award Winner for college excellence and accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

Online Learning: School Website

8. Mitchell Technical College      

Mitchell Technical College is one of the best community colleges in the state of South Dakota, offering a variety of online, hybrid, and on-campus programs to students in and around the southeastern area of the state. Mitchell Technical College’s Higher Learning Commission-accredited online academic options include a speech language pathology assistant, small business management, administrative and medical office professional. Additionally, Mitchell Technical College’s tuition rates are both affordable and the same for in and out-of-state online students.

Mitchell Technical College (MTI) was established in the late 1960s and is now a dual campus technical school with a student enrollment that exceeds 1,050 students. The main campus in Mitchell covers more than 75 acres. Since its inception, Mitchell Technical College has graduated nearly 20,000 students. 

Highlight: Mitchell Technical College offers students an impressive student-to-faculty ratio of 13 to 1.

Online Learning: School Website

9. Lake Superior College 

Lake Superior College is recognized as one of Minnesota’s best community colleges for students interested in a certificate/diploma, stand-alone associate degrees, or associate degrees that allow students to transfer to a baccalaureate degree program. Among the available program options offered by Lake Superior College are business, accountancy, technology, computers, liberal arts, certified nursing assistant, cyber defense, fire officer training, legal assistant/paralegal, programming, and cybersecurity, to name a few.

Lake Superior College (Lake Superior) was established in the mid-1990s as a public technical/community institution of higher education. The school’s main campus overlooks the St Louis River and the city’s Lake Superior harbor and is home to approximately 6,750 students. 

Highlight: Lake Superior College was the first of all the state’s colleges and universities to have a LEED-certified silver building on campus.

Online Learning: School Website

10. Northland Community and Technical College

Northland Community & Technical College is a comprehensive community college and technical school that offers a variety of academic degree programs (stand-alone and transfer programs) and certificate/diploma options. Available programs of study from this best online college include business, education, aerospace, public safety, information technology, agriculture, automotive, building trades, information technology, human services, and health, among other online degree programs.

Northland Community & Technical College (Northland) is a public community/technical school that operates several local campuses in the northwestern portion of Minnesota. More than 3,150 students attend classes on the school’s campuses and through the distance learning platform operated by Northland Community & Technical College. 

Highlight: Northland Community and Technical College is a member school of the state’s college and university system – which is recognized to be the fourth largest in the nation.

Online Learning: School Website

11. North Hennepin Community College     

North Hennepin Community College is a top college offering various academic degrees and certificate programs from its Brooklyn Park campus and through NHCC’s distance learning platform. As one of Minnesota’s best school choices, North Hennepin Community College’s top majors are human services, liberal arts, business, pre-nursing, and computer science, sixty of which are designed to allow students to transfer to a four-year university. North Hennepin Community College grants associate of arts, an associate of science, an associate of fine art, and an associate of applied science degrees.

North Hennepin Community College (North Hennepin) was established in the mid-1960s as a junior college located in the greater Twin Cities Metro area. North Hennepin Community College campus is north of Minneapolis and home to nearly 9.800 students. 

Highlight: The first few years of classes for North Hennepin Community College were held in a local unused junior high school.

Online Learning: School Website

12. Rochester Community and Technical College     

Rochester Community & Technical College offers a variety of associate degrees in Arts, Science, and Applied Science, plus various certificate and online degree programs to residents of southeast Minnesota and online. Rochester Community & Technical College offers more than 100 academic degree options, plus another seventy technical/transfer community colleges program choices. The most unique programs offered by this best school include clinical neurophysiology technology, surgical technology, advanced hospital nursing assistant, equine science, horticulture technology, and welding technology, to name a few.

Rochester Community & Technical College (Rochester) was founded in 1915 as a junior college. RCTC’s  500+ acre city-based campus in Rochester is home to approximately 7,950 students. Additionally, Rochester Community & Technical College is a member school of the state’s college/university system. 

Highlight: Rochester Community & Technical College holds the distinction of being the oldest community college in Minnesota.

Online Learning: School Website

13. North Dakota State College of Science

North Dakota State College of Science is a two-year community college that offers more than 75 academic options in agriculture, transportation, STEM, finance, education, public safety, marketing, architecture, and health science, to name a few. Approximately 97 percent of North Dakota State College of Science’s graduates are either pursuing further education options or working. Online degree programs from this best online community college include the fields of health information, information technology, business management, technical studies, and liberal arts, to name a few.

Established during the early part of the 20th century, North Dakota State College of Science (North Dakota) now operates as a member of the state’s university system and a space-grant institution of higher learning. North Dakota State College of Science maintains two campuses in Fargo and Wahpeton that serve nearly 3,000 students. 

Highlight: North Dakota State College of Science’s alumni include nearly 40,000 active members.

Online Learning: School Website

14. Northwood Technical College            

Northwood Technical College is one of Wisconsin’s best online community college choices, offering various academic and technical online degree programs. Wisconsin’s Northwood Technical College’s online options include programs in education, business, nonprofits, leadership, medical coding/billing, software and computers, health support, child care, financial services, and criminal justice, to name a few. Additionally, NTC is recognized as a military-friendly school, with 92 percent of its graduates employed after one-half year after graduation.

Northwood Technical College (Wisconsin Indian head) is a multiple campus institution of higher education with a variety of academic facilities located throughout the northeastern region of Wisconsin. The campuses are located in Superior, Rice Lake, Ashland, New Richmond, Hayward, Ladysmith, and Balsam Lake. 

Highlight: The school’s nearly 3,000 students enjoy an impressive eight to 1 student-to-faculty ratio.

Online Learning: School Website

15. San Jacinto College       

San Jacinto College is a comprehensive community college in south Texas that offers students more than two hundred academic degree and certificate program options across a wide variety of fields of study. As Houston’s best online community college, San Jacinto College offers programs in the areas of business, paralegal, administration, humanities/arts, education (teaching or child development), public safety, social/behavioral science, STEM, liberal arts, health sciences or construction/manufacturing and technology, among other online degree programs.

San Jacinto College (San Jacinto) was established in the early 1960s to serve the greater metro Houston vicinity. San Jacinto College maintains six campuses (with main sites in Pasadena and Houston) which serve about 30,900 students. Additionally, SJCC operates another six academic extension centers nearby. 

Highlight: San Jacinto Community College also operates a maritime facility in La Porte, Texas.

Online Learning: School Website

16. Normandale Community College 

Normandale Community College is a comprehensive higher learning institution that offers a variety of noncredit and credit academic programs entirely online. The programs available from this best online community college include associate of arts, an associate of science, & an associate of applied science in the areas of business or liberal arts. Normandale Community College is recognized to be the largest of all community colleges in the state of Minnesota and one of the most cost-effective academic options in the state.

Established in 1968 as a junior college, Normandale Community College (NCC) now operates a public community school the serves students and residents in the southwest Metro area of the Twin Cities. The school’s 75+ acre campus in Bloomington is home to about 14,860 students. 

Highlight: Several Minnesota state politicians are proud to be alumni of Normandale Community College.

Online Learning: School Website

17. Johnson County Community College        

Johnson County Community College is a higher learning institution that offers various certificate, diploma, stand-alone, and transfer associate degree programs. Students enrolled in this Kansas best online community college are offered an impressive faculty-to-student ratio of 1 to 16. Credit program options offered by Johnson County Community College includes study areas in arts/design, business, computers, education, health, culinary/hospitality, law, STEM, industrial technology, social sciences/humanities, foreign language, communications, public safety, and transportation, to name a few of the online degree programs.

Johnson County Community College was established in the late 1960s and serves the residents of Johnson County, Kansas. The community college’s campus in Overland Park is home to about 18,550 students. The school has more than one hundred transfer arrangements with regional universities/colleges. 

Highlight: Johnson County Community College is home to the Nerman Contemporary Art Museum.

Online Learning: School Website

18. Shoreline Community College       

Shoreline Community College is a two-year community college in Washington state that offers a variety of academic degree, certificate and training programs. As a best online community college in Washington, Shoreline Community College awards more than 125 scholarships each year. Shoreline Community College offers students 2.5 dozen academic and certificate programs in the fields of accounting, business, child advocacy, education, criminal justice, medical coding, health information, health, management, sustainable leadership, and tax preparation, to name a few.

Shoreline Community College (SCC) was founded in 1964 and serves the residents living in the Shoreview Park East vicinity. Shoreline’s campus, located about ten miles from Seattle’s downtown, is home to approximately 11,960 students studying both part-time and full-time in their online degree programs. 

Highlight: Shoreline Community College is known for its automotive training programs, which have garnered awards over time.

Online Learning: School Website

19. Northeastern Junior College             

Northeastern Junior College is one of Colorado’s best online community college options, offering a variety of certificate, diploma, and academic degree programs on-campus, as hybrid programs, or completely online. Northeastern Junior College’s online programs are available in the fields of education, business, emergency services, health care, communications, STEM – Science, Technology, Engineering & Math, sports management/human performance, public safety, banking, and logistics, accounting, management, and applied technology, to name a few.

Northeastern Junior College (NJC) is a member school of the state’s community college system that was established in 1941. This community college’s campuses are home to approximately 1,400 students. The online degree programs are located in Sterling (which includes the main and the applied technology campuses) and another in Yuma, Colorado. 

Highlight: Additionally, Northeastern Junior College is a member of the CCC Online, a thirteen-member school system offering two-year degrees.

Online Learning: School Website

20. Montgomery College   

Montgomery College is one of Maryland’s largest higher learning community colleges that offers more than 135 academic degree and certificate programs. As Maryland’s best online community college,Montgomery College offers its students an impressive one to seventeen faculty-to-student ratio. In addition, MC is recognized to be the most diverse community college in the lower 48 states. Online degrees from Montgomery College include general studies, business, early childhood education, criminal justice, and computer science. Also, Montgomery College offers more than 400 online degree programs and classes through its distance learning platform.

Montgomery College (MC) is a multi-campus institution of higher education located in Montgomery County, Maryland, that was established in 1946. The school’s many facilities and campuses serve approximately 54,900 students each. 

Highlight: The three main campuses are located in Rockville (the largest), Germantown, and Silver Spring/Takoma Park.

Online Learning: School Website

21. Manchester Community College

Manchester Community College is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education and one of New Hampshire’s best online community college opportunities. Manchester Community College offers more than 60 certificate and associate degree program options in the areas of health care, liberal arts, automotive technology, art/design, education, business, and construction technology, to name a few. Students can opt for an accounting or management associate online degree program that can be completed entirely online. The top colleges that graduates of Manchester Community College transfer to include Southern New Hampshire University, Franklin Pierce, Plymouth State, and UNH – Manchester/Durham.

Manchester Community College (MCC) is a member school of the Community College System of New Hampshire that was established in 1945. In addition, Manchester Community College is a space-grant school that serves about 3,650 students on its suburban campus and online. 

Highlight: Students enrolled in Manchester Community College will find the school offers an impressive 13 to 1 student to faculty ratio.

Online Courses: School Website

22. Chippewa Valley Technical College           

Chippewa Valley Technical College is one of the larger technical schools in the state of Wisconsin. As one of Wisconsin’s best online community college choices, Chippewa Valley Technical College offers online programs in the areas of mechanical design, business management, software development, child care services, education, communication, journey worker, and supply chain management to name a few. Chippewa Valley Technical College’s mission statement includes the provision of flexible education to a diverse group of learners to improve communities and students’ lives.

Chippewa Valley Technical College (CVTC) is a member school (one of 16 that serves 11 counties) of the state’s technical college system. Established in 1912 as a public school, Chippewa Valley Technical College is home to approximately 17,250 students. 

Highlight: Neary sixty percent of the students enrolled in Chippewa Valley Technical College are enrolled in associate degree programs.

Online Courses: School Website

23. Anne Arundel Community College         

Anne Arundel Community College is an award-winning community college that is organized into five schools. This best online community college offers online classes and online degree programs in health science, business & law, science, technology & education, liberal arts, and workforce development/continuing education. Anne Arundel Community College features these online associate degree programs that offer transfer credits – psychology, computer science, & business management administration (with a minor in accounting). Students can also learn to become professional dealers in Anne Arundel Community College’s casino dealer school.

Anne Arundel Community College (AACC) was established in the early 1960s. Anne Arundel Community College offers programs to its nearly 54,000 students each year that include certificates and academic degrees both online and from the school’s 200+ campus in Arnold, Maryland. 

Highlight: Students representing Anne Arundel Community College athletically are known as the Riverhawks and enjoy a faculty to student ratio of only seventeen to one.

Online Courses: School Website

24. Ridgewater College          

Ridgewater College is a member school of the state’s college & university system and ranked as the best online community college in Minnesota for two years running. Ridgewater offers more than two dozen fully online programs. These distance learning options include business management, communications, law enforcement, photography, psychology, web development, liberal arts, accountancy, and CAD design, to name a few. Students enrolled in one of Ridgewater College’s associate degree programs will have met the minimum transfer curriculum for the state of Minnesota.

Ridgewater College (RC) was established in the mid 1990s by way of a merger of two local colleges. Ridgewater College is a multi-campus school with a campus in Hutchinson and another in Willmar. More than 5,450 students attend classes offered by Ridgewater College. 

Highlight: The school’s name is derived from the many lakes/rivers and the regional glacial ridge nearby.

Online Courses: School Website

25. Northeast Wisconsin Technical College     

Northeast Wisconsin Technical College is a comprehensive technical college that serves the greater metropolitan area of Green Bay. As Green Bay’s best online community college, Northeast Wisconsin Technical College offers more than 175 certificates, apprenticeships, technical diplomas, and associate degree programs. The many associate degree programs offered by Northeast Wisconsin Technical College include the areas of accounting, gerontology, business management, health information technology, leadership development, supply chain management, construction, human resources, and business analyst. 

Northeast Wisconsin Technical College (NWTC) is a multiple campus institution of higher learning that was established in 1912. More than 41,000 students attend classes online and on the technical college’s eight campuses and regional learning facilities.

Highlight: Northeast Wisconsin Technical College also offers business management training and has trained more than 20,000 employees thus far.

Online Courses: School Website

26. Ivy Tech Community College            

Ivy Tech Community College is Indiana’s largest post-secondary higher learning institution and a recognized best online community college with a partnership that allows associate degree graduates to complete their degree online through the University of Virginia. Ivy Tech has seven locations in the Indianapolis vicinity, plus the distance learning platform that offers more than 150 academic and certificate programs. Online programs are available in criminal justice, business management, information, health, software, supply chain logistics, computer science, and general education transfer programs.

Ivy Tech Community College (ITCC), established in 1963, represents the state of Indiana’s community college system with more than forty locations. Ivy Tech is recognized to be the country’s largest accredited statewide system of community colleges, with nearly 170,000 students enrolled online and on many campuses. 

Highlight: Ivy Tech also serves more than 50,000 high school student residents in the state.

Online Courses: School Website

27. Chandler-Gilbert Community College     

Chandler-Gilbert Community College offers nearly 75 academic degree and certificate programs from its four Maricopa County locations. As Arizona’s best online community college, Chandler-Gilbert Community College offers students an impressive average class size of sixteen students. Programs are available in human services, business management, computers and information technology, education, STEM, health sciences, and management, to name a few. Chandler-Gilbert Community College is recognized to be one of the fastest growing schools within the community college system of Maricopa County, Arizona.

Chandler-Gilbert Community College (CGCC) is a multiple-campus community college with several locations in Maricopa County. The school’s student enrollment nears 19,000 per year. Established in the mid-1980s, Chandler-Gilbert Community College maintains four campuses in queen Creek, Sun Lakes, Pecos, and Williams. 

Highlight: The Higher Learning Commission accredits the programs offered by Chandler-Gilbert Community College.

Online Courses: School Website

28. South Central College   

South Central College is among the best online community college options in Minnesota, offering a variety of Associate of Arts (AA), Associate of Applied Science (AAS), an Associate of Science (AS) degree programs. South Central College offers more than fifty online and on-campus program options, including degrees that meet the academic requirements for students to seamlessly transfer to a four-year university or college. Students enrolled in South Central College’s online programs have the benefit of flexibility in scheduling of these fully accredited online degree programs.

South Central College (SCC) was established as a technical school but became a more comprehensive college in 2005. South Central College maintains two campuses in Faribault and North Mankato, Minnesota, and is a member of the state’s college system. 

Highlight: South Central College has several articulation agreements with four-year schools in Minnesota and beyond.

Online Courses: School Website

29. Kansas City Kansas Community College  

Kansas City Kansas Community College is a comprehensive community college that offers more than 100 academic degree and certificate programs to prepare the next generation of workers. The top programs offered by Kansas City Kansas Community College, Kansas City’s best online community college, include business administration, culinary arts, business, nursing/register nursing, and physical therapy assistant. Nearly sixty percent of Kansas City Kansas Community College’s students are from Wyandotte County, with another 35% from within Kansas. About half the students enrolled in a credit program at Kansas City Kansas Community College are enrolled as full-time students.

Kansas City Kansas Community College was once part of the city’s public school system that was founded in the early 1920s. Additionally, Kansas City Kansas Community College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and the state’s Board of Regents. 

Highlight: Kansas City Kansas Community College’s urban campus and distance learning platform is home to approximately 9,400 students.

Online Courses: School Website

30. Southwest Wisconsin Technical College       

Southwest Wisconsin Technical College has been offering a comprehensive selection of certificate, diploma, and academic degree programs for the past five decades. As one of Wisconsin’s best online community college options, Southwest Wisconsin Technical College offers associate degrees in accounting, supply chain management, business, nonprofit leadership, cancer information management, health information, data analytics, and education. Available technical diplomas include child car, supply chain assistant, drive education, and medical coding specialist. Additionally, students can choose to enroll in a career advancement certificate in purchasing, tax preparation, or logistics.

Southwest Wisconsin Technical College (SWTC) was established by the state’s legislature in the mid-1960s. Southwest Wisconsin Technical College is a member school of the state’s technical college system with a student enrollment that exceeds 2,550 students. 

Highlight: Southwest Wisconsin Technical College offers its enrolled students an impressive faculty-to-student ratio of 1 to 15.

Online Courses: School Website

31. Lakeshore Technical College    

Lakeshore Technical College is recognized as a military-friendly and award-winning community college that offers a variety of cost-effective academic degree, diploma, and certificate programs. The most popular of the associate degree programs offered by Wisconsin’s best online community college include business, nursing, human resource administration, accounting, and electro-mechanical automation technology. Other programs available include court reporting, paralegal, ophthalmic medical assistant, network specialist, digital marketing, broadcast captioning, public safety, pharmacy technician, HVAC, wind technician, or dental assistant, to name a few.

Established in the late 1960s, Lakeshore Technical College now operates as a member school of the state’s technical college system. Lakeshore Technical College’s rural campus in Cleveland, Wisconsin, is home to approximately 10,250 students. 

Highlight: In addition to the main campus in Cleveland, Lakeshore Technical College operates small educational facilities in Manitowoc and Sheboygan.

Online Courses: School Website

32. Alvin Community College    

Alvin Community College is among the best online community college options in the Lone Star State, offering a variety of Associate of Arts (AA), Associate of Applied Science (AAS), an Associate of Science (AS) degree programs, plus many diploma and certificate (Technical Certificates and Advanced Technical Certificate) programs on-campus and online. Program options include business/marketing, education/child development, health/medicine, public service/law enforcement, liberal arts, manufacturing, construction/logistics, STEM, and hospitality, to name a few.

Alvin Community College (ACC) is a public institution of higher education that was established as a junior college in 1948. The school’s 100+ acre campus in Alvin and its online platform serves more than 5,150 students. The school is organized into five divisions. 

Highlight: Nolan Ryan, the hall of fame Major League Baseball Pitcher, is an alumnus of Alvin Community College.

Online Programs: School Website

33. Central Lakes College    

Central Lakes College is a community college that offers students an open entry to the school. As one of Minnesota’s best online community college options, Central Lakes College offers associate degree and certificate programs in the areas of liberal arts, nursing/dental, graphic design, automotive, agriculture/horticulture, information technology, computers, law enforcement, child development/special education, machine tool technology, and occupational skills, to name a few. Additionally, Central Lakes College offers live online classes with the use of conferencing technology.

Central Lakes College (CLC) is a multiple-campus higher learning institution with campuses in Brainerd and Staples, Minnesota. Central Lakes College is a member school (One of 37 schools) of the state’s college & university system with a student enrollment that exceeds 5,960 students. 

Highlight: Central Lakes College has been awarded NACEP national accreditation for its concurrent enrollment programs.

Online Programs: School Website

34. Iowa Central Community College    

Iowa Central Community College offers a variety of two-year associate degrees in various fields of study. ICCC, as one of Iowa’s best online community college options, Iowa Central Community College offers more than 50 Associate of Arts (AA) degrees in social work, accounting, and journalism. There are more than 30 Associate of Applied Science (AAS) academic degree programs in the areas of TV/Radio Production, fie science, and diesel technology. Additionally, Iowa Central Community College offers diploma and certificate programs in industrial mechanics, carpentry, and culinary arts, to name a few.

Established in the mid-1960s, Iowa Central Community College (ICCC) is a multi-campus institution of higher learning with academic locations in Fort Dodge, Storm Lake, and Webster City, Iowa. Iowa Central Community College’s campuses are home to more than 4,950 students. 

Highlight: Iowa Central Community College’s athletes have more than three dozen national championships in a number of sports.

Online Programs: School Website

35. Riverland Community College   

Riverland Community College is among Minnesota’s best online community college options, offers a variety of academic Associate of Arts (AA) and Associate of Fine Arts (AFA), plus an array of certificate and diploma programs. Riverland Community College offers more than two dozen online program options that include accounting, business, computers, leadership/management, tax preparation, social media marketing, web development, and mobile apps & virtual reality, many of which offer seamless transfers to partner four-year programs. 

Established in 1940 as a junior college, Riverland Community College (RCC) operates several campuses in the south and eastern portions of Minnesota. The campus locations of Albert Lea, Owatonna, and Austin serve nearly 5,000 students each year. 

Highlight: Riverland Community College is one of more than thirty higher learning institutions that make up the Minnesota state university and college system.

Online Programs: School Website

36. Iowa Lakes Community College     

Iowa Lakes Community College is recognized to be one of Iowa’s best online community college opportunities offers an array of on-campus and online academic and certificate programs in various fields of study. The online programs available at Iowa Lakes Community College include accounting, human services, business administration & management, and paralegal/legal studies. Additionally, Iowa Lakes Community College offers two transfer associate degrees as follows – An Associate of Arts (AA) degree and An Associate of Science (AS) degree.

Iowa Lakes Community College (ILCC) was founded in the mid-1960s and serves a number of counties in Iowa. The college’s rural campus in Estherville is home to approximately 2,250 students and 150+ academic staff members. 

Highlight: Iowa Lakes Community College is a member school of the NJCAA – the National Junior College Athletic Association.

Online Programs: School Website

37. Western Iowa Tech Community College    

Western Iowa Tech Community College is a comprehensive institution of higher education that offers more than 160 certificate, diploma, and associate degree programs both online and on-campus. As a best online community college in Iowa, Western Iowa Tech Community College is a member of the state online community college consortium. Western Iowa Tech Community College offers nearly 30 academic and certificate program options – all online, that include accounting, business, health information technology, agriculture, video game design, payroll clerk, human resource management, and cyber security and digital crime, to name a few.

Established in the mid-1960s, Western Iowa Tech Community College (WITCC) now operates several campuses in northwestern Iowa. These campuses in Sioux City, Cherokee, Mapleton, Denison, and Le Mars serve nearly 6,800 part-time and full-time students. 

Highlight: Western Iowa Tech Community College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

Online Programs: School Website

38. Hutchinson Community College     

Hutchinson Community College, located in Hutchinson, Kansas, is a comprehensive community college that offers a wide variety of on-campus and online academic degree and certificate/technical program options. As one of Kansas’s best online community college options, Hutchinson Community College offers associate degree options in accounting, health information management, paralegal, general studies, business, and criminal justice. Additionally, HCC offers technical certificates in business, management, early childhood education, information technology, coding, health management (with or without an emphasis in cancer registry management), and paralegal, to name a few.

Established as a junior college in 1928, Hutchinson Community College (HCC) now maintains a main campus in Hutchinson and two satellite facilities in Newton and McPherson, Kansas. The school’s student enrollment exceeds 8,150 students. 

Highlight: Hutchinson Community College offers its students an impressive 18 to 1 – student to faculty ratio.

39. Northern Virginia Community College

Northern Virginia Community College is among the largest community college systems in the nation, with guaranteed transfer admissions to a number of four-year higher learning institutions in Virginia, Washing, DC, and throughout the country. NOVA, as one of Virginia’s best online community college options, offers nearly two dozen online academic degree programs, plus another nineteen certificate programs that can be completed entirely online. Areas of study for these online degrees include business, computer science, social sciences, liberal arts, general studies, criminology, and information technology, to name a few.

Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA) is a multiple campus community college with ten academic facilities in Northern Virginia and the nation’s capital. Founded in 1964, NVCC – Northern Virginia Community College is now recognized as the 3rd largest higher learning institution in the country, with nearly 52,000 students. 

Highlight: Northern Virginia Community College holds the distinction of being the largest academic system in Virginia.

40. The Community College of Baltimore County 

The Community College of Baltimore County is a large community college that offers students and working learners in Baltimore County an array of certificate, workforce certification, and associate degree programs on its campuses and online. This best online community college is accredited by the Middle States Commission of Higher Education. Available online programs are offered in allied health and nursing, education, technology, wellness, public safety, communication, general studies, business, and social sciences, among others.  

The Community College of Baltimore County was established by the merging of several colleges. The earliest college was founded in 1957 and now includes three campuses, plus another academic extension facility in Baltimore County. More than 69,000 students attend classes hail from more than fifty countries. 

Highlight: Many online programs offer students guaranteed to transfer to a four-year university.

41. Southeast Community College        

Southeast Community College is considered one of Nebraska’s best online community college opportunities, offering a variety of distance learning certificate, diploma, and academic degree programs. Many of the online program options are available in business, criminal justice, early childhood education GIS technician, and office administration, among others. Additionally, there are many online programs that required supervised practicums to complete the academic degree. Adult learners have the option of enrolling in more than 300 courses available online each term.

Established in the early 1940s as Fairbury Junior College, Southeast Community College rea now operates multiple campuses across southeastern Nebraska that serves more than 10,000 students. The largest campuses are located in Milford, Beatrice, and Lincoln, Nebraska. 

Highlight: The most popular four-year university transfer for students at Southeast Community College is the University of Nebraska.

42. De Anza College     

De Anza College is a comprehensive community college located in Central California that ranks first or second for the number of students who transfer to California State University or one of the University of California campuses. De Anza College’s associate degree programs require the completion of 90 quarter credits and include a program in business administration and environmental resource management, and pollution prevention. Online certificate programs available from this best online community college include business, entrepreneurship, network basics, and management information systems support, to name a few.

Established in 1967, De Anza College (DAC) now operates as a member school of the Foothill-De Anza CC District. More than 21,460 students attend classes on-campus and online offered by DAC. 

Highlight: De Anza College is named to honor Juan Bautista de Anza, a famous Spanish explorer.

43. Ocean County College     

Ocean County College is located along the New Jersey Shore and offers a variety of Associate of Science (AS), an Associate of Arts (AA), an Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degrees in more than three dozen areas of study – including many transfer opportunities. This best online community college also offers various transfer associate degree programs that are offered part-time, full-time, evenings, daytime, or weekends. The nursing programs offered by Ocean County College have been accredited by the Accreditation Comm for Education in Nursing.

Ocean County College (OCC) was established in the mid-1960s and now operates two main campuses in Ocean County, plus nearly two dozen academic extension sites across the county. The college serves about 8,050 students each year. 

Highlight: Bruce Springsteen is among the famous alumni that have attended Ocean County College.

44. Century College      

Century College is a technical community college that offers an array of certificate, diploma, and associate degree programs across the fields of industry/trade, applied design, arts/humanities, business, health, technology, STEM, and social/behavioral sciences, among others. As one of Minnesota’s best online community college options, Century College provides nearly 60 degree options and 85 certificate/diploma programs. In addition to a transferrable associate of arts, Century College also offers these online certificates – translation & interpreting, marketing, office technology, medical, kitchen/bath design, health sciences, and individualized studies.  

Established in 1967 as a junior college, Century College (CC) operates as a technical school and community college with a student enrollment of more than 11,950 students online and on the college’s suburban campus in White Bear Lake. 

Highlight: Century College offers customized training for a host of businesses in the area.

45. Sheridan College    

Sheridan College is considered one of Wyoming’s best online community college options that offers workforce training, plus a number of certificate and associate degree programs on its campus and distance-learning platform. Among the online degree and certificate options available from Sheridan College are business, web development, social science, health science, computers, general studies, human services, early childhood education, and IT Technician support, among others.

Established in the late 1940s, Sheridan College (SC) operates as a polytechnic higher learning institution and is a member of the North Wyoming CC District that serves Johnson, Sheridan, and Campbell counties. More than 2,050 students attend classes offered online and on-campus. Sheridan is home to the college and has been recognized among the best towns in the west and the nation. 

Highlight: Sheridan College’s rodeo team plays in the Intercollegiate Rodeo Association.

46. Santa Rosa Junior College 

Santa Rosa Junior College was established as, and considered a model for, a ‘feeder school’ for students transferring to the University of California. As one of California’s best online community college opportunities, Santa Rosa Junior College, located about an hour north of San Francisco, offers students Associate of Arts (AA), Associate in Science (AS), plus these degrees as transferable degrees. Associate level candidates must complete a minimum of sixty semester credits to graduate. Additionally, Santa Rosa Junior College offers students the option of multiple majors.

Established more than 100 years ago (1918), Santa Rosa Junior College (SRJC) operates multiple campuses in California’s north and central coastal areas. SRJC maintains a campus in Santa Rosa and Petaluma, plus various academic facilities in Sonoma County. 

Highlight: Santa Rosa Junior College is recognized to be the tenth oldest California community college.

47. Hudson Valley Community College      

Hudson Valley Community College is an institution of higher learning that offers more than 75 certificate and academic degree programs, of which nearly two dozen are available through Hudson Valley Community College’s distance learning platform. The associate degrees are offered in Arts, Science, Applied Science, and Occupational Studies. This best online community college offers these areas of studies – accounting, information technology, business, computers, criminal justice, entrepreneurship, health information management, marketing, liberal arts, and public administration, among others.

Established in 1953, Hudson Valley Community College (HVCC) is a public school that is organized into three divisions – health sciences, business & liberal arts and science, technology engineering, and math. More than 9,150 students attend classes on the school’s suburban campus or online through the distance learning platform maintained by HVCC. 

Highlight: Students enrolled in Hudson Valley Community College are mostly from the capital region but represented by some 26+ international countries.

48. San Joaquin Delta College    

San Joaquin Delta College offers more than 100 academic associate degree and certificate program options at cost-effective tuition rates. San Joaquin Delta College offers both associate degrees that can be applied toward a four-year degree as well as stand-along associate degrees. The transferrable two-year degrees are available in history, Spanish, administration of justice, anthropology, psychology, law (public policy & society), and English. Stand-alone associate-level degrees are available in real estate, computer science, math/science interdisciplinary studies, or family & consumer sciences.

San Joaquin Delta College (SJDC) was established in the mid-1930s to serve central California residents. More than 18,450 students attend classes on the Stockton campus or online. Stockton was established during the state’s gold rush and is home to the oldest school in the state – the University of the Pacific. 

Highlight: San Joaquin Delta College holds the distinction of being recognized as the best online community college in California by WalletHUB.com.

49. Oakton Community College 

Oakton Community College is a comprehensive public school that offers both noncredit and credit coursework from its multiple campuses (in Des Plaines and Skokie) and through its distance learning online platform. This best online community college offers certificates in accounting, early childhood education, income tax preparation, Microsoft Office, and accounting technology. Oakton Community College also offers a liberal arts Associate in Arts degree and Associate of Applied science in Accounting, which requires 63 credit units to meet the program’s requirements.

Oakton Community College (OCC) is a multi-campus institution of higher education that was established in the late 1960s in Morton Grove, IL. Currently, Oakton Community College serves more than 45,550 students from its various locations and online. 

Highlight: Oakton Community College maintains a dual enrollment with Shimer College, located in nearby Chicago, Illinois.

50. St Cloud Technical and Community College     

St Cloud Technical and Community College is a comprehensive public college that serves the residents of central Minnesota. St Cloud Technical and Community College awards a variety of academic degrees (at the associate level) plus certificate and diploma programs from its campus and online. As one of Minnesota’s best online community college options, St Cloud Technical and Community College offers an Associate of Arts (AA), an Associate of Applied Science (AAS), and an Associate of Science (AS) degree program in the areas of liberal arts/sciences, psychology, business, environmental science, health information technology, and finance.

St Cloud Technical & Community College (SCTCC) was established as a vocational technical school in 1948. St Cloud Technical & Community College is currently a member school of the state’s university and college system with a student enrollment of approximately 4,050 students. 

Highlight: Student athletes represent St Cloud Technical and Community College as the Cyclones and play at the Division III level of NJCAA.

Can I Get an Online Degree from a Community Colleges? 

For those who want a more flexible and convenient academic path, there are many options for community colleges online. Online degrees aren’t just for universities – most community colleges now offer fully online programs, and lots of online courses. Some are completely online courses with on-campus orientations, while some of them still require personal study in some schools, and others are completely free from campus visits. Many community colleges take account of the fact that their populations often consist of non-traditional learners who need to be fairly flexible to work. This premise is often incorporated into the online programs of community colleges.

What are the Advantages of Online Community College Programs? 

Online community school courses can be perfect for both non-traditional and adult students – who make up most community college students – who are committed to other life-long learning. Community college students who have children and work while also pursuing an education could have a harder time working out their schedule and commuting to campus. Community college with online classes is a great fit for a wide array of people, even the traditional student, who ultimately aims to transfer to a 4-year college or university. But unlike traditional programs, online college courses can be provided in asynchronous format, so that the training can be done anytime, anywhere. 

If this is something better suited to your needs, look at online classes for community college. A further benefit to junior colleges with online classes is that, depending on which course you choose, you can usually take one class at a time or a full course load at your own pace. When looking at classes that meet your needs, make sure that you understand the methods for delivery – including synchronous, online, or hybrid options – so that you know how and if it fits well with your current circumstances in life.

Prospective students can get financial aid for online colleges and online associate degrees just like traditional. The online community college cost is so much lower at an accredited online community college. Get your online associate’s degree from distance education – online community college degrees provide a solid community college education.

Are Online Courses as Good as Campus? 

It is important that your online community college courses are accredited if you want a truly valuable degree. The quality of accredited online community universities gives students the reassurance that courses, curricula, and pathways are suitable for transferring platforms to four-year programs at accredited four-year higher education institutions. Online community college accreditation at the regional level is the highest standard of quality, as accreditation promises that the course work meets your objectives.

Even if you only want to take one online course at a time, you should be sure that your online community college classes are accredited online because they will actually apply to the professional fields you are studying. This is an important way to learn and academic trajectories relevant to other courses of higher education. This is a great opportunity for vocational training. The accreditation process is comprehensive and thus well respected.

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Aya Andrews

Editor-in-Chief

Aya Andrews is a passionate educator and mother of two, with a diverse background that has shaped her approach to teaching and learning. Born in Metro Manila, she now calls San Diego home and is proud to be a Filipino-American. Aya earned her Masters degree in Education from San Diego State University, where she focused on developing innovative teaching methods to engage and inspire students.

Prior to her work in education, Aya spent several years as a continuing education consultant for KPMG, where she honed her skills in project management and client relations. She brings this same level of professionalism and expertise to her work as an educator, where she is committed to helping each of her students achieve their full potential.

In addition to her work as an educator, Aya is a devoted mother who is passionate about creating a nurturing and supportive home environment for her children. She is an active member of her community, volunteering her time and resources to support local schools and organizations. Aya is also an avid traveler, and loves to explore new cultures and cuisines with her family.

With a deep commitment to education and a passion for helping others succeed, Aya is a true inspiration to those around her. Her dedication to her craft, her community, and her family is a testament to her unwavering commitment to excellence in all aspects of her life.

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