A junior college, also known as a community college, is a post-secondary educational institution that offers vocational training designed to prepare students for skilled trades, technical occupations, and support roles in professions. Here are some key points about junior colleges:
- Junior colleges in the United States are two-year post-secondary schools that provide academic, vocational, and professional education.
- The highest certificate offered by junior colleges is usually an associate degree, although students may continue their education at a four-year university or college, transferring some or all of the credits earned at the junior college toward the degree requirements of the four-year school.
- Junior colleges can be a great option for student-athletes who are looking for a different route into top NCAA schools. Junior college football, also known as JUCO football, is a 2-year program where students study an associate degree. At the end of the 2 years, they transfer to an NCAA or NAIA school where they complete the final 2 years of their degree. In most cases, they will be recruited directly by the college coach.
- Junior colleges are governed by the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA), which serves as the national governing body for two-year college athletics in the United States and is the nation’s second-largest national intercollegiate sports organization (second to the NCAA). These colleges compete at either the NJCAA Division I (DI), Division II (DII), or Division III (DIII) levels.
- Junior colleges can be a smart decision for many financially, as well as academically. They can also be the best step for athletic development. With the transfer world in college athletics at its peak and the number of student-athletes enrolling at junior colleges on the rise, attending a junior college is recommended for student-athletes looking to further advance their knowledge of the sport and further train to get their skills to the next level.
In summary, a junior college is a post-secondary educational institution that offers vocational training designed to prepare students for skilled trades, technical occupations, and support roles in professions. Junior colleges in the United States are two-year post-secondary schools that provide academic, vocational, and professional education. Junior colleges can be a great option for student-athletes who are looking for a different route into top NCAA schools. They are governed by the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA), which serves as the national governing body for two-year college athletics in the United States. Junior colleges can be a smart decision for many financially, as well as academically, and can be the best step for athletic development.
