When recruiting early-career talent, many employers tend to overlook community colleges as great sources for early career candidates. But community colleges can be an excellent place to find intern and entry-level talent with diverse backgrounds, skill sets, and experiences. In fact, some ground-breaking professionals have attended community colleges, including co-founder of Apple Steve Wozniak, legendary film director Clint Eastwood, former NASA astronaut Eileen Brooks, and co-founder & CEO of Costco, Jim Sinegal. With more than 9 million students attending community colleges today, employers seeking talent there will have access to a massive pool of capable students. To get started, here are some of the impressive community colleges to recruit from:
Anne Arundel Community College
Location: Arnold, MD
Size of Undergraduate Student Body: 9,642
School Type: Public
Anne Arundel Community College (AACC) has won numerous national, regional, and state awards for its academic excellence and student programs, and was recently recognized as a Gold Military Friendly School for the services and resources it provides military and veteran students and their families. AACC offers 93 degrees and 73 certificates across its five school locations, with some of the most popular areas of study including business administration, computer/ information technology, and nursing. Plus, AACC offers its students the opportunity to build their own course of study under the guidance of an academic advisor if none of those degrees fit their interests, which is intended to prepare them to transfer to a four-year college with their dream major.
Atlantic Technical College
Location: Coconut Creek, FL
Size of Undergraduate Student Body: 2,543
School Type: Public
A highly-rated public community college in the Miami Area, Atlantic Technical College is a secondary and post-secondary institution with 35 challenging instructional programs. This includes high-wage, high-skill, and high-demand occupations through a full complement of apprenticeship programs in 17 different trades and adult academic programs for individuals looking to pursue their high school diplomas or improve their English language skills. Popular majors include Licensed Practical Nurse Training (LPN), HVAC and Refrigeration Engineering Technician, and Culinary Arts and Food Service.
Bronx Community College
Location: Bronx, NY
Size of Undergraduate Student Body: 7,743
School Type: Public
Bronx Community College, which is part of the City University of New York (CUNY) system, is known for its diverse student body and designation as a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI). BCC has been recognized as one of the top leaders in the state for serving Hispanic and Latinx students, and in 2022 partnered with Google to better support those learners and prepare them for their careers. BCC offers students more than 40 degree programs, ranging from nursing to cybersecurity, with some of the most popular fields of study being liberal arts and humanities, business administration, nutrition, and criminal justice.
Craven Community College
Location: New Bern, NC
Size of Undergraduate Student Body: 3,200
School Type: Public
Craven Community College (CCC) is a New Bern and Havelock-Cherry Point-based institution providing a wide range of programs, including college transfer courses, career and occupational offerings, partnerships with four-year universities, specialized workforce training options, developmental studies, and basic skills classes. They offer an FAA-Certified Aviation Systems Technology program and several healthcare courses. CCC has also partnered with schools like East Carolina University, NC State, and others for students to pursue bachelor’s degrees without leaving the area.
Foothill College
Location: Los Altos Hills, CA
Size of Undergraduate Student Body: 4,016
School Type: Public
Foothill College, rated #1 in the USA by Niche.com, was founded in 1957 and remains a leading provider of higher education in the Los Altos Hills area. With 191 degrees and certificates, the college offers many opportunities for students to pursue their academic and professional goals. Some of the most popular majors include Liberal Arts and Humanities, Psychology, and Business. Within two years after graduation, 83% of students are employed. Through the Krause Center for Innovation, Foothill College provides hands-on learning experiences and resources to help students develop the skills required for success in today’s job market. In addition, there are some notable names to come out of Foothill college, including Debbi Fields, founder of Mrs. Fields Cookies.
Fox Valley Technical College
Location: Appleton, WI
Size of Undergraduate Student Body: 11,709
School Type: Public
Fox Valley Technical College is a 2-year public college with over 220 associate degrees, technical diploma and certificate programs, and instruction related to 18 apprenticeship trades, serving over 50,000 people annually. After graduating from FVTC, 92% of alums are employed within six months. Some of the most popular majors and programs include Nursing Assistant, Welding, and Automotive Mechanics. In 2022, FVTC was awarded a $6.5 Million Grant for their Innovative Training Program to provide education with a turnaround of one year or less to a viable career path.
Las Positas College
Location: Santa Barbara, CA
Size of Undergraduate Student Body: 8,500
School Type: Public
Currently ranked by Intelligent as the best Community College in California, Las Positas College has awarded its highest number of associate degrees for six consecutive years. It offers a complete curriculum for students looking for careers or to transfer to a four-year college or university. In addition, Las Positas College has new state-of-the-art buildings and equipment for key programs, including science, technology, and performing arts, California’s 8th highest transfer rate, flexible class scheduling, and extensive free support services for student success, such as the Tutorial Center and Open Math Lab.
Moraine Park Technical College
Location: Fon Du Lac, WI
Size of Undergraduate Student Body: 10,070
School Type: Public
Serving the Beaver Dam, Fond du Lac, West Bend, Jackson, and Ripon, Moraine Park areas, Moraine Park Technical College serves almost 14,000 students annually. The fourth-rated community college in the U.S. offers six degree options with more than 100 programs for customized training. From manufacturing skills to entrepreneurship, MPTC offers quality education and resources for students to jumpstart their careers. Data shows that 92% of MPTC grads are employed within 6 months of graduation and earn an average starting salary of $48,183. Popular programs include Health Professions, Business, and Computer and Information Sciences.
Northern Virginia Community College
Location: Annandale, VA
Size of Undergraduate Student Body: 35,849
School Type: Public
With six campuses and four centers in the suburbs of Washington. D.C., Northern Virginia Community College is known as one of the most internationally diverse colleges in the United States, with its large student body representing more than 180 countries. The median earnings of students across all programs 6 years after graduating is $42,000, which is well above the national average, and 88% of students are employed within two years of graduating. Northern Virginia Community College offers 25 degrees and certificates for students, many of which can be completed online. Some of the most popular areas of study include business management, marketing, and computer information sciences.
Northwood Technical College
Location: Rice Lake, WI
Size of Undergraduate Student Body: 4,014
School Type: Public
A small institution with an incredible curriculum, Northwood Technical College provides over 60 areas of study. About 95% of Northwood Tech graduates are employed within six months, with an average starting salary of $43,258. With 100+ programs and certificates and over $250,000 worth of scholarships each year, they offer an incredible opportunity for success. Over 70% of students graduate, and some of the most popular majors include Welding, Nursing Assistant, Accounting Technician, and Bookkeeping.
Santa Barbara City College
Location: Santa Barbara, CA
Size of Undergraduate Student Body: 13,781
School Type: Public
An award-winning community college, Santa Barbara City College offers a state-of-the-art campus across from the beach. With 244 degrees and certificate programs, you can earn an associate degree, or certificate or transfer to a 4-year college or university. Their awards include the Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence, the American Library Association, Hobsons Education Advance Award, and the Top 50 Best Value Community Colleges. The SBCC School of Extended Learning provides educational and community programs that serve a diverse adult population. Their most popular areas of study include Liberal Arts and Humanities, Business, Entrepreneurship, and Healthcare. In addition, SBCC offers $1 Million in scholarships annually through the SBCC Foundation.
Southeast Technical College
Location: Sioux Falls, SD
Size of Undergraduate Student Body: 3,000
School Type: Public
Southeast Tech offers 65 career paths to prepare to enter the workforce. Students can earn Associate Degrees, Diplomas, and Certificates and take Non-Degree Courses to prepare for many professions across agriculture, business, engineering, healthcare, computer science, and more. In addition, Southeast Technical College offers students several scholarship opportunities to help newly accepted students to build their careers. In 2022, they sponsored 142 full-ride recipients. Furthermore, the 2021 Graduate Outcome Report shows that 99% of graduates were employed within six months after graduation.
The Ohio State University – Agricultural Technical Institute
Location: Wooster, OH
Size of Undergraduate Student Body: 643
School Type: Public
Ohio State ATI is the associate-degree-granting academic unit within the Ohio State University College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES). They are an academic college program aiming to provide affordable, accessible associate degree programs that lead to employment or bachelor’s degrees. Their primary programs focus on agriculture, horticulture, environmental sciences, business, and engineering technology.
Additional community colleges to consider:
Collins Career Technical Center – Chesapeake, OH
Pasadena City College – Pasadena, CA
Bellingham Technical College – Bellingham, WA
Lakeshore Technical College – Cleveland, WI
Lake Area Technical College – Watertown, SD
Asa College – New York, NY
College of DuPage – Glen Ellyn, IL
New Mexico Military Institute – Roswell, NM
Renton Technical College – Renton, WA
North Florida College – Madison, FL
With rising talent moving through community colleges to gain the skills they need for a successful career, employers can find highly capable, motivated candidates. Community colleges provide students with a range of degree and certification programs in many different fields, offering plenty of talent for employers looking to fill their job openings.
(We based our list on data from Niche, which incorporates post graduate earnings and other info from the Department of Education, and Academic Influence, which investigates how influential a school’s graduates and professors are.)
Download our guide “Beyond The Ivy League” for more information on expanding your recruitment reach and finding students at the top public schools, Women’s Colleges, HBCUs, and HSIs.
