Research and Narrow Your Options: Community College

After you define your priorities and identify the factors most important to you, use other resources to narrow down your choices.

Research Online

Almost every college and university in the United States has a website with detailed information about degree programs, application procedures, academic departments, on-campus facilities, and other topics. Many independent websites also allow you to search for institutions by your subject of interest, geographic preference, or by other criteria that you specify. Here are three to get you started:

Visit an EducationUSA Advising Center or an EducationUSA event

EducationUSA Advisers work in more than 400 advising centers in 170 countries. Contact an adviser today to learn more about how to access educational opportunities in the United States. Visit the events page of this website to learn about upcoming higher education fairs or other opportunities to meet with U.S. admissions officers face-to-face.

How are U.S. degrees recognized in my country?

While highly valued in many countries, a U.S. degree, particularly from a community college, may be recognized at a different level in some countries. Seek guidance from your nearest EducationUSA advising center or with your Ministry of Education or other appropriate authority.

U.S. higher education is different from many other systems around the world as it is not subject to a central government authority and institutions are free to design curriculum. Regional and national accreditation of U.S. colleges and universities helps ensure that institutional standards are being met. To verify an institution's accreditation, visit the U.S. Department of Education or the Council on Higher Education Accreditation.

Your 5 Steps to U.S. Study