{"id":650,"date":"2013-11-21T00:57:54","date_gmt":"2013-11-21T00:57:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.top10onlinecolleges.org\/?page_id=650"},"modified":"2023-10-04T23:03:15","modified_gmt":"2023-10-04T23:03:15","slug":"junior-college","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.top10onlinecolleges.org\/faq\/junior-college\/","title":{"rendered":"What Are Junior Colleges?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

In decades past, “junior college” referred to schools that offered two years of higher education beyond high school. Such colleges were popular from the early 1900s to the sixties. But what are junior colleges?<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n

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What Is a Junior College?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

There are very few two-year private junior colleges anymore. Instead, two-year <\/a>public junior colleges are usually called community colleges or technical colleges. But in this article, we’ll use the three terms interchangeably.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Community college programs usually offer vocational training for a specific career<\/a>. But a community college can also serve as preparation for a bachelor’s degree<\/a> at a four-year college. These schools aim to serve those who live in the surrounding areas. Thus the title “community” college.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Is Junior College in Relation To Being a Junior in University or College?<\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n
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The two terms sound alike, but they are two entirely different things. For example, when people ask, ” what’s a junior college”? They are referring to an actual school. But a junior in college refers to a student in their third year at a four-year university. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Is a jc College? What Is jr College?<\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

These are just two other ways to ask, “what’s junior college?” the abbreviation <\/span>JC<\/span><\/i> stands for <\/span>junior college.<\/span><\/i> And when someone asks, “what is a jr college” you can tell them the <\/span>JR<\/span><\/i> is short for<\/span> junior<\/span><\/i>.  <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Are Junior Colleges and Should You Attend One?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n
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If you’re wondering if you should attend junior college, you’re in luck. This article will answer some of your most pressing questions about junior colleges. We’ve included the top ten online junior colleges to make your search easier.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Junior College Concept<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Junior colleges really took off in the 1950s. At the time, traditional four-year colleges were inaccessible to many students. Often, they were too expensive for families. In other cases, high school students weren’t academically prepared for higher education yet. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Most community colleges filled that gap. As a result, students who were not ready for a university environment could still remain at home. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Additionally, most community colleges gave families extra time to save money for a four-year college Plus, it gave them a chance to apply for scholarships<\/a> or financial aid.<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Early Junior Colleges and University Relationships<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Many of the early junior colleges in the United States were affiliated with a four-year university. The university would accept graduating junior college students as freshmen. In turn, the junior college would prepare students with the academics they needed for admission to the college. But eventually, most junior colleges gradually broke away from their affiliated universities. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n

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The Evolution of Junior Colleges<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

At first, junior colleges were automatically accredited<\/a>. That’s because they were associated with the affiliated university. This gave the awarded associate’s degrees their much-needed legitimacy.<\/span> But eventually, junior colleges began to receive their own accreditation. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

By the 1970s, junior colleges were becoming accepted as colleges in their own right. And it was the norm to consider junior colleges as the first two years of a college education. This was when private junior colleges began to change into the community colleges we know today.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

From Junior College to Community College<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Junior colleges have gradually transitioned to full-service institutions. Most offer associate degrees<\/a> and certificates that prepare students for a particular role in the working world. Some also offer 4-year bachelor’s degrees. Most junior colleges now serve the whole community, which is why they are usually called community colleges. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Best Online Junior College Programs<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

1. Northcentral Technical College<\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n
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Wausau, Wisconsin<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tuition: $3,673 <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Northcentral Technical College<\/span><\/a> was established in 1907. It was founded in a two-story building at the Wausau Industrial School. This two-year technical college draws inspiration from its rich history. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The college’s impressive online format<\/a> serves students from all over the country. They offer 27 online Associates degree programs, including degrees in:<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n