The Community College System - About Ohlone College

The first community college in the United Sates, Joliet Junior College in Illinois, was founded in 1901, making 2001 the 100th anniversary of the community college system. According to the American Association of Community Colleges, as of 2008 there were more than 1167 community colleges in the United Sates, with 993 of those institutions being publicly controlled.

Did You Know…?

$1.6 million is the average lifetime earnings of a college graduate with an associate's degree—$400,000 more than for a high school graduate. Source: Community College League of California.

There are 12.4 million students attending community colleges in the United States, representing 44% of all undergraduate students in the United States and 43% of all first-time freshmen in the United States.

Annually community colleges award more than 609,000 associate degrees and nearly 323,000 certificates.

The California Community College system of two-year public institutions is composed of 112 colleges statewide organized into 72 districts. During the 2009-2010 academic year the California Community College system enrolled more than 2.75 million students, more than 85,000 students earned an associate degree, and more than 41,000 students earned a certificate. The California Community College System represents the largest system of higher education in the world.

Did You Know…?

Nearly two-thirds of community college students who transfer to UC complete a bachelor's degree within three years of entering UC—a rate comparable to "native" UC students (those students who were eligible and entered as freshmen). Source: Community College League of California.

Ohlone College is a part of the Ohlone Community College District with campuses in Fremont and Newark, as well as the virtual campus of online course offerings.

During 2010-2011 the Ohlone Community College District served six high schools, two continuation high schools, two adult schools, and the Regional Occupational Programs, and almost than 17,000 students.

Ohlone is proud of its role in the community college system - both in the United States and California - and honored to be able to provide its students with a quality educational experience.

[From the 2011-2012 Ohlone College Catalog.]