Community Colleges, also known as Junior Colleges or City Colleges or County Colleges, have been providing academic knowledge and vocational training in the United States for over a century now.

Originally developed as two-year academic alternatives to four-year State University programs, Community Colleges followed the policy of training the local work force to man the newly developing, local industries.

Existence of Community Colleges meant that:

• The local youth do not need to relocate in order to attend a distant State University.
• The low-income families, who could not afford relocation or State University tuition costs anyway, could now have a viable academic and vocational training option.
• The local youth could count on a local career after getting their Junior College degree.
• The 'open admission' policy offered academic opportunities for anyone interested in getting an education.
• Local values and traditions could be upheld and preserved.

The Joliet Junior College, established in Illinois in 1901, was the first Community College set up in the United States. Other states soon followed suit and there are now over 1600 Community Colleges and their various branches spread across the United States.

Community Colleges received a boost with:

• The GI Bill offering academic opportunities to World War II veterans.
• President Truman's backing of nation-wide Community Colleges. An education commission appointed by him published a noteworthy report 'Higher Education for American Democracy' on the need for Junior Colleges.
• Student training grants received from the Kellogg Junior College Leadership Programs.
• An increased public interest in vocational training courses in the 1950s and 1960s.
• Widespread enrollment in the 1970s from students seeking deferment from the Vietnam War Draft.
• Vast improvement in academic and vocational training programs and in teaching and research resources in the 1980s and 1990s.

Community Colleges are currently challenged by:

The growing popularity of online education and e-learning schools. Many Junior Colleges have consequently introduced online programs and distance education programs in their curriculum. Online education offers more or less all the benefits of community colleges and many more. Today many students are opting for online degrees over community colleges.

Community Colleges offer training in:

• Associate Degree courses
• Vocational programs
• Adult Continuing Education
• High School Diploma or GED
• Development courses for children

Popular training courses offered by Community Colleges include:

• Accounting
• Business Administration
• Hotel Management
• Computer Science
• Law Enforcement
• Nursing & more