Are All Community Colleges Really 2-Year Programs?

I've always thought that community colleges are designed for 2-year programs, but I've heard a few different things recently and now I'm not so sure. Can you really only do 2-year associate degrees there, or do some community colleges offer longer programs or even bachelor's degrees? I'm starting to consider community college as an option after high school, so I want to know what the full range of possibilities might be.

Community colleges traditionally offer 2-year Associate's degrees, but that's not always the limit of their educational offerings. Many people also attend community colleges to earn certificates in a particular field of study, such as HVAC, culinary arts, or medical technology, which may take less than two years to complete.

In fact, over the last decade or so, there has been a growing trend among community colleges offering 4-year Bachelor's degrees as well. As an example, Florida, Washington, and Texas have a relatively large number of community colleges that offer Bachelor's degrees.

One thing worth mentioning, most students who attend community colleges do so with the aim of transferring to a 4-year institution. Many community colleges have transfer partnership agreements with universities, which can guarantee admission to students who complete a specific set of courses with a certain GPA.

Remember, every community college is different and offers its own unique set of programs. Be sure to carefully research the specific schools you're interested in so you can keep track of all the opportunities available to you.