A community college is a type of educational institution. The term can have different meanings in different countries.

United States

main: Community colleges in the United States

In the United States, community colleges, sometimes called , junior colleges, technical colleges, or city colleges, are primarily two-year public institutions providing higher education and lower-level tertiary education, granting certificates, diplomas, and associate's degrees.

After graduating from a community college, some students transfer to a four-year liberal arts college or university for two to three years to complete a bachelor's degree.

Before the 1970s, community colleges in the United States were more commonly referred to as junior colleges, and that term is still used at some institutions. However, the term "junior college" has evolved to describe private two-year institutions, whereas the term "community college" has evolved to describe publicly funded two-year institutions. The name derives from the fact that community colleges primarily attract and accept students from the local community, and are often supported by local tax revenue.

Australia

Australia has had a system of Technical and Further Education (TAFE) colleges for many years. Training is conducted under the National Training System, the Australian system for vocational education and training (VET) under the Australian Quality Training Framework (AQTF), in which employers, the States of Australia, and the Commonwealth Government, formalise a curriculum available for Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) to teach and assess the competency of students. Courses are part of the Australian Qualifications Framework.

TAFEs or their outlying schools are in most large towns, and cities.

Canada

main: College#Canada

In Canada, community colleges are usually simply referred to as "colleges" since in common usage a degree granting institution is almost exclusively a university. In the province of Quebec, even when speaking in English, collages are called Cégeps for Collège d'enseignement général et professionnel, meaning "College of General and Vocational Education". Colleges are educational institution providing higher education and lower-level tertiary education, granting certificates, diplomas, (rarely) associate's degrees, and sometimes limited selections of specialized bachelor's degrees.

Canadian Community College Systems

• Nova Scotia Community College system
• Ontario Colleges
• Quebec CEGEPs
• New Brunswick Community College

Malaysia

main: Community college (Malaysia) Community colleges in Malaysia are a network of educational institutions whereby vocational and technical skills training could be provided at all levels for school leavers before they entered the workforce. The community colleges also provide an infrastructure for rural communities to gain skills training through short courses as well as providing access to a post-secondary education.