Community College & Technical Schools
2-year colleges are schools that offer associate degree programs that can be completed in 2 years. There are two main kinds of 2-year colleges, community colleges and technical schools. Both offer two-year programs leading to associate degrees, but they have distinct purposes and focuses.
Community College
Community colleges are designed for students who may want to transfer to a four-year college after earning their associate degree. These schools offer more general education courses, similar to high school core classes, which prepare students for a broad range of bachelor's degree programs. After completing an associate degree, students can often transfer to a four-year college and complete a bachelor’s degree in just two additional years. In Georgia, there is no dedicated community college system; the role of traditional community colleges is largely fulfilled by schools within the University System of Georgia (USG). This is because our community colleges were merged with our 4 year colleges/universities years back, so many of our 4 year colleges offer associates degrees. |
Technical Schools
(Also known as trade or vocational schools/colleges) Technical schools focus on preparing students for specific careers directly after graduation. Unlike community colleges, technical schools emphasize specialized training with fewer general education requirements. This specialized focus can make transferring to a four-year college more challenging. However, students benefit by gaining hands-on experience and training tailored to their chosen field. Additionally, technical schools often offer short-term certification programs, such as obtaining a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) for truck driving, which can be completed in less than two years. Georgia’s public technical schools are run by the Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG). |
Things worth considering when choosing between community/technical college and traditional 4-year college or university:
