These Community Colleges Have On-Campus Housing
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Community Colleges with Student Housing
Here is a list of community colleges in the United States that offer on-campus housing to students:
- Adirondack Community College (New York)
- Arizona Western College (Arizona)
- Bakersfield College (California)
- Bismarck State College (North Dakota)
- Butler Community College (Kansas)
- Central Arizona College (Arizona)
- Central Community College (Nebraska)
- Central Wyoming College (Wyoming)
- Cochise College (Arizona)
- College of the Siskiyous (California)
- Columbia College (California)
- Dodge City Community College (Kansas)
- Feather River College (California)
- Finger Lakes Community College (New York)
- Fulton-Montgomery Community College (New York)
- Glendale Community College (Arizona)
- Gogebic Community College (Michigan)
- Great Basin College (Nevada)
- Hesston College (Kansas)
- Highland Community College (Kansas)
- Hocking College (Ohio)
- Iowa Central Community College (Iowa)
- Iowa Lakes Community College (Iowa)
- Kellogg Community College (Michigan)
- Lake Tahoe Community College (California)
- Lincoln Trail College (Illinois)
- Linn-Benton Community College (Oregon)
- Louisburg College (North Carolina)
- Lower Columbia College (Washington)
- Marion Military Institute (Alabama)
- Miles Community College (Montana)
- Monroe Community College (New York)
- Murray State College (Oklahoma)
- Northeast Texas Community College (Texas)
- Northeast Community College (Nebraska)
- Northwest College (Wyoming)
- Northwest Kansas Technical College (Kansas)
- Otero College (Colorado)
- Parkland College (Illinois)
- Pratt Community College (Kansas)
- Quincy College (Massachusetts)
- Redlands Community College (Oklahoma)
- Rend Lake College (Illinois)
- Ridgewater College (Minnesota)
- Santa Fe College (Florida)
- Schreiner University (Texas)
- South Georgia State College (Georgia)
- Southwestern Michigan College (Michigan)
- SUNY Broome Community College (New York)
- SUNY Sullivan (New York)
- Vernon College (Texas)
- Vincennes University (Indiana)
- Western Nebraska Community College (Nebraska)
- Western Wyoming Community College (Wyoming)
- Wharton County Junior College (Texas)
- Wharton County Junior College - Sugar Land (Texas)
- Wilson Community College (North Carolina)
This list is up to date as of September, 2024 - but keep in mind that there are likely other community colleges offering smaller on-campus housing programs to students.
Community College vs Traditional 4-year Colleges
As a high school senior thinking about what your next steps are once you graduate, many minds are shifted to either a 4-year college or community college. While both of these options are different in their nature, they can fit student’s different needs. Financially, community colleges are cheaper than 4-year colleges as they are only 2 years compared to the latter. On the other hand, campus life at a 4-year college is much more vibrant than that at a community college. There are many differences such as these that a student should weigh when they are making a decision about furthering their education.
It is essential to sit down with your family members in your senior year of high school or perhaps even earlier and make a plan. Make a plan of what criteria you are looking for in furthering your education and determine what matters to you most. Finances, campus life, job opportunities, and location are all important factors to consider. There is no advantage necessarily from attending either type of school but is more dependent on the amount of work you are willing to put in.
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Community College Campus Life
While community colleges do lack a campus life for many reasons including many students commuting and are only there for 2 years, there have been growing attempts to increase the student life. Presidents of community colleges around the world have increased social and academic events and advocated for more students eating together in the dining halls. They have also attempted to keep libraries/cafes open to increase more group studying as well. Overall, the campus life at community colleges is on the rise.
Do Community Colleges Offer On-Campus Housing?
As seen in the above list, there are quiet a few community colleges with student housing. However, most students that attend community colleges typically are commuters or they live off campus. As such, there hasn’t been a need for on-campus housing which in turn has decreased the campus life scene. While not every community college in the U.S. offers on-campus housing, some have townhouses and apartment-style living for students interested. The closer students live to campus the more opportunities they have to socialize with their peers, join organizations, and contribute to the school’s campus life. As of April 2023, approximately 285 community colleges in the United States have offered on-campus housing so looking into those will be very beneficial as a student.
Opportunities to Transfer to Bigger Schools
Many students decide to choose the community college pathway first to get them more accustomed to being independent, lesser financial burden, and a stepping stone to hopefully transferring to a bigger school later on. Additionally, many scholarships/internships are looking for students that attended community colleges and something that helps differentiate you as a candidate as well. While it may be a big adjustment transferring to a bigger, 4-year college, it comes with more opportunities and access to job opportunities.
Finding a Home
Community college students typically find their home and group of people by attending social activities such as parties, cultural celebrations, and other ways to interact with people. It differs significantly from a 4-year college because you have to put in more effort as you may not live right by campus. As such, it is much harder to socialize with your peers. Making that extra effort to attend voluntary club sessions, make study sessions with classmates, and hanging out with your college friends will really make you find your home.
