
Cheapest Community Colleges in USA for International Students
Community colleges in America are one of the most top-rated and affordable colleges. These colleges allow admissions to local as well as overseas students. In addition, you should know that about one-fifth of international students in the United States of America study in these colleges. Community colleges in the USA are usually from California, Washington, Texas, New York, and Florida. With that being said, this blog tells you all you need to know about community colleges in the USA.
Table of Contents
What is Community College in USA?
Community colleges in America can be considered local colleges. These are two-year colleges in which local students mainly enrol. An advantage is staying at their place and attending the classes, saving them time and money. They are also more affordable than universities, so students with a low budget can also take admissions. Students usually prefer diplomas, certification programs, and two-year associate's degrees offered by community colleges.
Benefits of Studying in Community Colleges in USA
- You can enrol in most community colleges under your budget because they are cheaper than universities and more affordable.
- The admission process is also very lenient, meaning that your chances of getting easily selected are more.
- The batch size is smaller compared to universities, meaning that each student can get individual attention from the faculty.
- Another advantage of enrolling in a community college is attaining a bachelor's degree at an affordable rate.
- You will experience education, infrastructure, faculty, facilities, and friendships like an American.
- The most significant advantage of enrolling in a community college in the United States of America is that its rules, regulations, and guidelines allow you to live and work in America for up to a year.
List of Community Colleges in USA for International Students
Name of the College |
QS World Ranking |
Annual Tuition Fees in INR (Approx.) (Average) |
The City University of New York, New York City |
N/A |
1314684 |
California State University, Long Beach |
251 to 300 |
613030 |
South Texas University, South Texas |
N/A |
339748 |
Brigham Young University, Utah |
1001 to 1200 |
838296 |
Alcorn State University, Mississippi |
N/A |
561325 |
The University of Minnesota, Morris |
N/A |
930618 |
Lehman College, New York |
251 to 300 |
1314683 |
Arkansas State University, Arkansas |
1001 to 1200 |
960161 |
Minot State University, North Dakota |
N/A |
502238 |
Oxnard Community College |
N/A |
564275 |
Central Wyoming College |
N/A |
837491 |
Bristol Community College |
N/A |
759842 |
Greenfield Community College |
N/A |
891645 |
West Valley College |
N/A |
562063 |
Trinity Valley Community College |
N/A |
455357 |
Houston Community College |
N/A |
286486 |
Community Colleges in USA: Eligibility Criteria
- Community colleges in the North American subcontinent usually have a more flexible admission process than private universities.
- You can choose to submit your standardized scores. However, you are not required to send such scores. It will be beneficial.
- Community colleges accept SAT or ACT scores, which strengthen your application. You will also require English proficiency tests such as IELTS or TOEFL.
- Usually, upon arriving at the community college, you will take a placement test in the English language and your sector of study.
- You will need to fill in an online application form. It asks for information such as personal information and education history.
- You will also need your educational credentials, usually your secondary or high school diploma or transcripts (in English, translate if not). You can also submit final national exam scores, but they are optional in community colleges.
- You may also need other forms such as financial information, proof of health insurance, vaccination certificate records, passport, and visa information. This data often depends from college to college and may vary. So, check with your college before applying.
Exams Required to Study in Community Colleges in the USA?
Name of the University |
Exams |
Minimum Required Score |
The City University of New York, New York City |
SAT, ACT, and New York State Regents |
950, 28, and 65 |
California State University, Long Beach |
N/A |
N/A |
South Texas University, South Texas |
ACT, GED, TSI, and HESI |
17, 145, {350, 351, 5 (writing) or 4 (essay), and 340 (MCQ)}, and 75% |
Brigham Young University, Utah |
ACT and SAT |
29 and 1220 |
Alcorn State University, Mississippi |
GED, ACT, and SAT |
Pass, 16, and 800 |
The University of Minnesota, Morris |
N/A |
N/A |
Lehman College, New York |
GED and TOEFL |
3100 and 500 |
Arkansas State University, Arkansas |
CGPA, ACT, and SAT |
2.75, 21, and 1060 |
Minot State University, North Dakota |
CGPA, ACT, and SAT |
2.0, 17, and 920 |
Oxnard Community College |
N/A |
N/A |
Central Wyoming College |
ACT, SAT, and Math Placement Test |
N/A |
Bristol Community College |
Accuplacer College Placement Tests |
N/A |
Greenfield Community College |
Accuplacer College Placement Tests, College-Level English, and College-Level Math |
N/A |
West Valley College |
Guided Self-Placement and ESL Placement |
N/A |
Trinity Valley Community College |
ACT and CLEP |
{29, 32 (English) and 26,30, (Math)} and 50 to 53 |
Houston Community College |
TSI |
340 placement score and 4 essay score, or less than 340 placement score, ABE diagnostic level 4 and essay score 5 |
Community Colleges in USA: Admission Process
- Community colleges in the USA usually have a much more flexible admission process than private universities.
- You need to know the application deadline for the college you wish to enrol in.
- Before the deadline, you need to submit the college's application form, the application fee, and your high school diploma (in English, translate if not). Other documents include a valid passport copy, proof of finances, proficiency in the English language, medical records, a Letter of Recommendation, Statement of Purpose, and CV or resume. You may also need to submit a personal letter.
- Some colleges require you to give an entrance exam that you need to pass with a minimum set benchmark.
- After submitting all the documents, you need to wait for the result.
- The admission process is lenient, meaning that your chances of getting selected are higher than at a university. However, still, if you get rejected, you can plead your case with the college.
- Please note that it was a general admission procedure idea. The admission process varies from college to college, so check with the college you are applying to be sure.
Studying in a community college in the USA is a much more flexible and affordable option for international students. Plus, the quality of education is also excellent. AECC Global can help you select the best community college per your area of study. Our experts have helped lakhs of students get their dream education abroad. If you also want to be a part of them, contact us today.