Contents -- A Note from the Peterson's Editors -- What You Need to Know About Two-Year Colleges -- IMPORTANT FACTORS IN A COMMUNITY COLLEGE EDUCATION -- 1. They are community-based institutions that work in close partnership with high schools, community groups, and employers in extending high-quality programs at convenient times and places. -- 2. Community colleges are cost effective. Annual tuition and fees at public community colleges average approximately half those at public four-year colleges and less than 15 percent of private four-year institutions. In addition, since most community... -- 3. Community colleges provide a caring environment, with faculty members who are expert instructors, known for excellent teaching and meeting students at the point of their individual needs, regardless of age, sex, race, current job status, or previo... -- 4. Many offer comprehensive programs, including transfer curricula in such liberal arts programs as chemistry, psychology, and business management, that lead directly to a baccalaureate degree and career programs that prepare students for employment ... -- GETTING TO KNOW YOUR TWO-YEAR COLLEGE -- COMMUNITY COLLEGES CAN SAVE YOU MONEY -- FINANCIAL AID -- WORKING AND GOING TO SCHOOL -- PREPARATION FOR TRANSFER -- ATTENDING A TWO-YEAR COLLEGE IN ANOTHER REGION -- NEW CAREER OPPORTUNITIES -- Surviving Standardized Tests -- WHAT ARE STANDARDIZED TESTS? -- THE ACT -- Test 1: English -- Test 2: Mathematics -- Test 3: Reading -- Test 4: Science -- THE SAT -- Critical Reading -- DON'T FORGET TO . . . -- Mathematics -- Writing -- SAT SUBJECT TESTS -- THE TOEFL INTERNET-BASED TEST (IBT) -- WHAT OTHER TESTS SHOULD I KNOW ABOUT? -- The AP Program -- College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) -- WHAT CAN I DO TO PREPARE FOR THESE TESTS? -- Resources -- Top 10 Ways Not to Take the Test.

Who's Paying for This? Financial Aid Basics -- FINANCIAL AID PROGRAMS -- SOURCES OF FINANCIAL AID -- HOW NEED-BASED FINANCIAL AID IS AWARDED -- APPLYING FOR FINANCIAL AID -- If Every College You're Applying to for Fall 2014 Requires the FAFSA -- If a College Requires the PROFILE -- IF YOU DON'T QUALIFY FOR NEED- BASED AID -- Frequently Asked Questions About Transferring -- Returning to School: Advice for Adult Students -- SETTING THE STAGE -- UNCERTAINTY -- CHOICE -- SUPPORT -- What International Students Need to Know About Admission to U.S. Colleges and Universities -- FIRST STEP-SELECTING INSTITUTIONS -- Location -- Recommendations from Friends, Professors, or Others -- Your Own Academic and Career Goals -- Your Own Educational Background -- 1. How Many Years of Study Have You Completed? -- 2. Does the Education That You Have Completed in Your Country Provide Access to Further Study in the United States? -- 3. Are Your Previous Marks or Grades Excellent, Average, or Poor? -- SECOND STEP-PLANNING AND ASSEMBLING THE APPLICATION -- How to Obtain the Application Form -- What Are the Key Components of a Complete Application? -- Transcript -- Required Standardized Examination Scores -- For More Information -- Evidence of Financial Support -- Letters of Recommendation -- Application Fee -- Completing the Application Form -- THIRD STEP-DISTINGUISH YOUR APPLICATION -- Deadline or Guideline? -- Statement of Purpose -- Use Personal Contacts When Possible -- Community Colleges and the New Green Economy -- The Role of Community Colleges in Creating a Workforce for the Green Economy -- by Mary F.T. Spilde, President Lane Community College -- Establishing a World-Class Wind Turbine Technician Academy -- by James DeHaven, Vice President of Economic & Business Development Kalamazoo Valley Community College -- How to Use This Guide -- QUICK-REFERENCE CHART.

Column 1: Degrees Awarded -- Column 2: Institutional Control -- Column 3: Student Body -- Column 4: Undergraduate Enrollment -- Columns 5-7: Enrollment Percentages -- Columns 8-10: Admission Policies -- Columns 11-12: Financial Aid -- Columns 13-15: Services and Facilities -- Column 16: Sports -- Column 17: Majors -- PROFILES OF TWO-YEAR COLLEGES AND SPECIAL MESSAGES -- Bulleted Highlights -- First Bullet -- Second Bullet -- Third Bullet -- Fourth Bullet -- Category Overviews -- Undergraduates -- Freshmen -- Faculty -- Majors -- Academics -- Student Life -- Athletics -- Standardized Tests -- Costs -- Financial Aid -- Applying -- Admissions Contact -- Additional Information -- COLLEGE CLOSE-UPS -- INDEXES -- 2012-13 Changes in Institutions -- Associate Degree Programs at Two-and Four- Year Colleges -- DATA COLLECTION PROCEDURES -- CRITERIA FOR INCLUSION IN THIS BOOK -- State-supported 2-year, founded 1969, part of Alabama College System -- Rural 245-acre campus with easy access to Birmingham -- Endowment 142,934 -- Coed, 4,069 undergraduate students, 55% full-time, 64% women, 36% men -- State-supported 2-year, founded 1974, part of Alabama College System -- Small-town 103-acre campus -- Coed -- Federally supported 2-year, founded 1972, part of Air University -- Suburban campus -- Coed, primarily men, 314,962 undergraduate students, 100% full-time, 18% women, 82% men -- State-supported 2-year, founded 1965, part of Alabama Community College System -- Small-town 275-acre campus with easy access to Birmingham -- Coed, 5,882 undergraduate students, 54% full-time, 62% women, 38% men -- State-supported 2-year, founded 1962, part of Alabama Department of Postsecondary Education -- Urban 81-acre campus -- Coed -- Proprietary primarily 2-year, founded 1994, part of ITT Educational Services, Inc. -- Suburban campus -- Coed.

Proprietary primarily 2-year, part of ITT Educational Services, Inc. -- Coed -- Proprietary primarily 2-year, part of ITT Educational Services, Inc. -- Coed -- State-supported 2-year, founded 1965, part of Alabama Community College System -- Suburban 351-acre campus -- Endowment 1.1 million -- Coed, 8,878 undergraduate students, 34% full-time, 61% women, 39% men -- State-supported 2-year, founded 1961, part of Alabama Community College System of the Alabama Department of Postsecondary Education -- Urban 6-acre campus -- Coed, 1,258 undergraduate students, 60% full-time, 55% women, 45% men -- State-supported 2-year, founded 1949, part of Alabama Community College System -- Urban 30-acre campus -- Coed, 3,419 undergraduate students, 57% full-time, 60% women, 40% men -- State-supported 2-year, founded 1969, part of Alabama Community College System -- Small-town 200-acre campus -- Coed, 1,646 undergraduate students, 61% full-time, 63% women, 37% men -- State-supported 2-year, founded 1963, part of Alabama Community College System -- Rural 117-acre campus -- Coed -- State-supported 2-year, founded 1963, part of Alabama Department of Postsecondary Education -- Small-town 210-acre campus -- Endowment 311,484 -- Coed, 3,717 undergraduate students, 52% full-time, 57% women, 43% men -- State-supported 2-year, founded 1966, part of Alabama Community College System -- Rural 26-acre campus -- Coed, 495 undergraduate students, 63% full-time, 60% women, 40% men -- State-supported 2-year, founded 1979, part of Alabama Community College System -- Small-town 202-acre campus with easy access to Birmingham -- Coed, 5,104 undergraduate students, 53% full-time, 57% women, 43% men -- State-supported primarily 2-year, founded 1964, part of University of Alaska System -- Rural 360-acre campus.

Coed, 2,733 undergraduate students -- State-supported 2-year, founded 1968, part of University of Alaska System -- Rural 68-acre campus -- Coed -- State and locally supported 2-year, founded 1962, part of Arizona State Community College System -- Rural 640-acre campus -- Coed, 7,854 undergraduate students, 35% full-time, 57% women, 43% men -- Proprietary 2-year, founded 1977, part of Carrington Colleges Group, Inc. -- Suburban campus -- Coed, 685 undergraduate students, 100% full-time, 81% women, 19% men -- Proprietary 2-year, founded 1976, part of Carrington Colleges Group, Inc. -- Urban campus -- Coed, 560 undergraduate students, 100% full-time, 85% women, 15% men -- Proprietary 2-year, part of Carrington Colleges Group, Inc. -- Urban campus -- Coed, 542 undergraduate students, 100% full-time, 63% women, 37% men -- Proprietary 2-year, founded 1984, part of Carrington Colleges Group, Inc. -- Suburban campus -- Coed, 399 undergraduate students, 100% full-time, 79% women, 21% men -- State and locally supported 2-year, founded 1985, part of Maricopa County Community College District System -- Suburban 80-acre campus with easy access to Phoenix -- Coed -- State and locally supported 2-year, founded 1977 -- Small-town 518-acre campus with easy access to Tucson -- Coed, 4,516 undergraduate students, 33% full-time, 54% women, 46% men -- Private primarily 2-year -- Coed, 200 undergraduate students -- State and locally supported 2-year, founded 1888, part of Arizona State Community College System -- Small-town campus -- Endowment 3.6 million -- Coed -- State and locally supported 2-year, founded 1968, part of Maricopa County Community College District System -- Urban 20-acre campus -- Coed.

State and locally supported 2-year, founded 1965, part of Maricopa County Community College District System.