Strong community colleges in Chicago?

I might start at a community college before transferring, and I live near Chicago. What community colleges in the area have good reputations, especially in terms of transferring credits to four-year universities?

There are several community colleges in the Chicago area known for their well-established transfer programs and strong community ties.

1. City Colleges of Chicago: This is actually a network of seven colleges located throughout the city. Each college specializes in certain programs, but they all offer general education courses that easily transfer to four-year universities. Richard J. Daley College, for example, is known for its art and design program, while Olive-Harvey College is recognized for its transportation and logistics program.

2. Triton College: Located just outside of Chicago in River Grove, Triton offers a wide variety of bachelor's degree transfer programs. They have established partnerships with certain universities, meaning the transfer of credits is relatively smooth.

3. Oakton Community College: Situated in Des Plaines and Skokie, Oakton has a robust selection of general education courses geared towards transfer. They also offer "2+2" agreements with certain universities to facilitate frictionless transfer after two years.

4. Harper College: Based in Palatine, Harper is known for its transfer programs in many disciplines. They even offer a program in which you can earn a bachelor's degree from select four-year universities right on the Harper campus.

5. College of DuPage: Although a bit further out in Glen Ellyn, COD is one of the largest community colleges in the U.S. They offer a comprehensive range of courses that transfer easily, and also stand out for their health sciences and hospitality and tourism program.

Remember, when considering community colleges, make sure to look at their partnerships with four-year institutions, as these can make transferring credits a more straightforward process. And don't forget to consider which school offers the strongest program in the area you want to study.