US Community Colleges

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#1 Pathways to an American degree

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If you are reading this post, chances are you are that you are looking for pathways to a degree in the U.S. There are four main options assuming if you have the SPM, IGCSE or an equivalent qualification:

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• Direct to a 4-year university in U.S.- Many U.S. universities will accept international students who have completed grade 11 high school qualification. These are good rank universities but not likely the ones ranked at the top. If you are ambitious and are aiming for a top-ranked university or the ivy leagues, you might want to consider one of the other options below. 

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• A Level / International Baccalaureate - Students who wish have a shot at top universities in the U.S. can take the A level or IB qualification. Some American universities offer credit exemption to students who have completed A level or IB with strong grades, effectively enabling students the opportunity to complete their bachelor's degree in under 4 years. 

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• American Degree Transfer programme - this is a 2+2 programme where students spend their first two years completing U.S. college credits at one of the private colleges in Malaysia. They then transfer to selected universities in the states. Depending on their choice of university and major, students may or may not be able to transfer their credits in full to universities in the U.S. 

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• Community colleges in the U.S. - This a a great option for students who wish to complete 4 years of their bachelor's degree in the U.S. at a reasonable cost. With the community college pathway, students have the opportunity to graduate at some of the best universities such as UCLA, University of Washington, University of Michigan, New York University as well as ivy leagues such as Columbia University, Cornell University and Brown University. 

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#2 What is A Community College?

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Community colleges are 2-year public colleges in the U.S. that allows students to compete the first 2 years of their bachelor's degree at a considerably lower cost compared to most 4-year universities. Students can earn an Associate's Degree​ at a community college in 1.5 to 2 years. They then have the option to transfer to universities across the U.S. to complete year 3 and 4 to obtain a bachelor's degree. ​This is commonly known as the University Transfer Programme. 

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#3 Why Community Colleges?

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(a) Flexible Entry Requirements

• International students are eligible to enter U.S. community colleges once they have completed SPM, IGCSE or equivalent. A levels, foundation or other pre-university qualifications are not usually required. 

• The minimum age to be accepted to most community college is 16.

• SAT or ACT is normally not needed as part of community college admission.

• Most community colleges require proof of English proficiency such as IELTS, TOEFL or Duolingo. 

 

(b) Easy Transfer to Top U.S. Universities

Community college students often get easier entry to some top universities in the U.S. Many U.S. universities have Transfer Admission Guarantee agreements (TAG) with community colleges that allow community college students to be automatically admitted into the university once they meet the transfer requirements, such as completing pre-requisite coursework and attaining a satisfactory grade point average. Many universities also offer preferential entry to community college students from the same state. 

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Students will also find it much easier to transfer their credits to U.S. universities from community colleges compared to other programmes such as the American Degree Transfer Programme or diplomas from Malaysia. 

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(c) Affordable Tuition

The average tuition at a good community college in the U.S. is around USD9,000 to 11,000 per annum. Tuition fees are usually due when students arrive in the U.S. and register for classes. Tuition are due after the start of each semester, making it very easy for parents to plan their finances. In addition to tuition, parents need to budget a little extra for insurance and books.  

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