Junior Colleges in Massachusetts
- Junior or community colleges in Massachusetts offer a wide variety of educational options.student #3 image by Adam Borkowski from Fotolia.com
Most junior colleges have now designated themselves as either community colleges, or two-year colleges. There are about 20 different two-year institutions in Massachusetts. These schools are public and private, and a few of them are for-profit colleges. These schools are a way to earn college credits without paying full college tuition. Some of them offer two-year degrees that can not be found at a four-year institution, such as physical therapy assistant programs. - With a main campus in Pittsfield, Mass., and two satellite campuses in other towns in the western part of the state, Berkshire Community College serves more than 2,000 students. The school offers associates of arts and science degrees, certificate programs, and a bachelor's of science in nursing in conjunction with the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. If you earn your associate's degree at this community college, you will be guaranteed admission to the University of Massachusetts, or any other Massachusetts state college. Additionally, according to the school's website, if you graduate with a 3.0 grade point average, you will reduce your in-state tuition at a four-year school by a third.
Berkshire Community College
1350 West Street
Pittsfield, MA 01201
413-499-4660
berkshirecc.edu - This community college was founded in 1946, and has more than 9,000 students in attendance per year, with an additional 5,500 noncredit-seeking attendees. The school has 100 degree programs, and also allows high school students to take courses for college credit before earning their diplomas. Holyoke Community College participates in the MassTransfer Program, which matches certain associate's degree programs with four-year degree programs at participating state schools. There are numerous benefits to this program, which increase depending on your grade point average at the time of transfer.
Holyoke Community College
303 Homestead Ave.
Holyoke, MA 01040
413-538-7000
hcc.edu - This school has about 4,500 students that it serves mostly in associate's degree programs. However, the college has partnerships with numerous four-year institutions to provide the 2+2 Program, in which graduates of the two-year degree programs can earn their four-year degree on the Cape Cod Community College campus. Some students can also earn master's degrees through this same program, in a few different majors. The college has an open enrollment policy, on a first-come, first-serve basis, as long as you have a high school diploma or GED, and are a resident of Massachusetts. Check with the academic department for its specific requirements.
Cape Cod Community College
2240 Iyannough Road
West Barnstable, MA 02668
877-846-3672
capecod.edu
