by our College Data Analytics TeamA major in Community College Education involves the study of Community College Administration. A Program That Focuses On The Principles And Techniques Of Administering Community And Junior Colleges And Related Postsecondary Systems, The Study Of Community And Junior Colleges As Objects Of Applied Research, And That May Prepare Individuals To Function As Administrators In Such Settings. Includes Instruction In Community And Junior College Finance; Policy And Planning Studies; Curriculum; Faculty And Labor Relations; Higher Education Law; Student Services; Research On Community And Junior Colleges; Institutional Research; Marketing And Promotion; And Issues Of Evaluation, Accountability And Philosophy. Examples: [Community College Leadership], [Community College Education]. Read on to learn the important information every community college education student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering community college education programs.
Across the country, community college education is a popular field of study, with 335 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Community College Education Schools ranking analyzes these 28 schools to determine the best overall colleges for community college education students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of community college education programs later in this article.
Coursework for Community College Education build a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations community college education graduates commonly enter.
The skill set built by a community college education program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Per O*NET surveys, a community college education major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several community college education degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 150 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 185 |
People currently working in careers related to community college education tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Master’s degree | 47.9% |
| Doctoral degree | 37.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 7.6% |
| Post-doctoral training | 7.2% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in community college education careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Studying community college education prepares you for many career paths. Below are some of the most common occupations related to community college education.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to community college education.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Education Administrators, Postsecondary | 237,062 | -1.7% |
College Scorecard reports median earnings of community college education graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Wages typically rise as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $65,211 |
| 4 years | $67,022 |
| 5 years | $74,441 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for community college education graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers community college education grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Education Administrators, Postsecondary | $161,927 |
With 28 different community college education programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased community college education school rankings to help you.
Those considering community college education, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
