Florida Community College System
Nearly 1 million students enroll in Florida's 28 public community colleges every year -- a system which ranks in the top ten nationwide for colleges awarding associate degrees.
Florida's community colleges provide the same courses as state universities for the freshman and sophomore years of a baccalaureate degree. However, the courses at the state's community colleges are about half the cost of a university.
When Florida's community college students transfer to state universities, they earn grade point averages that are the same or higher than students who began their education at a university.
Alumni of Florida's 28 community colleges comprise more than 62 percent of the juniors and seniors at the state's public universities.
Florida's community colleges are the doorway for nearly 60 percent of minority students who enter higher education in Florida.
Only 16 of the top 100 fastest growing occupations in Florida over the next decade will require a bachelor's degree. Nine of the top ten fastest growing occupations in Florida (between 1991 -2005 as identified by the Florida Dept. of Labor and Employment Security, Bureau of Labor Information) require one or two years of training through programs offered at Florida's community colleges.