Choose the type of College you are interested in attending:

• Community Colleges

  Community colleges are public, two-year schools that offer Associate Degree programs. These institutions generally attract a localized student body seeking a cost-efficient way to complete their general education requirements. Community colleges also offer Certificate programs. These schools are a great bargain for individuals who want to receive a four-year degree but don't want to spend a lot of money. While attending classes at community colleges, it's important to choose your courses carefully to ensure that your credits will transfer to a four-year institution.

• Vocational Colleges

  Vocational institutions generally provide career-specific course training and are often referred to as trade schools or career colleges. These schools focus upon specific topics that are designed to provide the student with the skills needed to perform a particular job. Such institutions are generally focused on job training as opposed to general education. Vocational schools are an excellent choice for individuals seeking specific careers.

• Technical Colleges

  Technical colleges are similar to vocational schools in the sense that they offer career-specific training designed to prepare students for specialized fields of employment. They generally offer Certificate and Diploma programs that may be completed in two years or less. Technical colleges are an excellent choice for individuals who would prefer to receive job-specific training and not take coursework that they deem impertinent to their education.

• 2-Year Colleges

  Two-year colleges may be public or private and encompass vocational schools, technical schools and community colleges. These schools often provide prerequisite general education for students who plan on transferring to four-year institutions, or they provide job-specific training courses. Two-year colleges are an excellent choice for individuals seeking to minimize college costs or for people who want to receive career-specific training.

• 4-Year Colleges

  Four-year colleges may be either public or private and offer Associate Degree programs, Bachelor's Degree programs, Master's Degree programs or Doctoral degrees. Many four-year institutions also have professional schools such as law, medical and veterinary schools. Four-year colleges are an excellent choice for students seeking higher education.

• Private Colleges

  Private colleges consist of four-year institutions as well as two-year schools, such as vocational institutions and technical schools. Private colleges are generally more expensive than public institutions because they don't receive as much government funding. Private colleges are an excellent choice for individuals seeking smaller class sizes. Tuition is generally higher than at public institutions, but scholarships, grants and financial aid are available to those who qualify.

• Public Colleges

  Public colleges consist of community colleges and state subsidized four-year institutions. Such institutions are excellent choices for individuals who place an emphasis on value. If you attend an in-state public institution, tuition is generally far cheaper than if you were to attend a private school or an out-of-state public college.