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Community Colleges in the US - Market Research Report (2014-2029)

Gabriel Seiler Gabriel Seiler New York, United States Last Updated: March 2024 NAICS 61121

Revenue

$72.1bn

2024

$72.1bn

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

$X.Xbn

Employees

49,066

Businesses

397

Wages

$X.Xbn

Community Colleges in the US industry analysis

Community colleges have fared well through the past five years as solid government support made up for pandemic-era challenges and lackluster enrollment. Quarantines discouraged many from enrolling in higher education, leading to deferred enrollments and gap years that turned into careers without a college education. In response, the US government poured $12.6 billion into the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund to mitigate losses. This support helped offset mass dropouts, leading to only a slight dip in revenue. Enrollment has returned to growth for the first time in over a decade as inflationary pressure pushes consumers to the cheapest option for furthering their education. Industry revenue has been expanding at a CAGR of 0.4% over the past five years to an estimated $72.1 billion in 2024, when revenue will surge by 1.9%.

Trends and Insights

  • Enrollment has returned to growth after years of decline. Concerns over four-year universities' hefty price points have promoted community colleges, though enrollment remains below pre-pandemic levels.
  • Certificates are popular options for students. These programs are quick and cheap, allowing students to enter or return to the workforce sooner rather than later.
  • Distribution follows population and population density. Municipalities and state governments mostly fund community colleges, and densely populated regions can be serviced by fewer colleges.
  • Community colleges must offer low prices. The main benefit of community college over a four-year institution is the cheaper financial burden on the student, and comprehensive financial aid and scholarship packages sweeten the deal even more.

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  • Market estimates from 2014-2029
  • Critical performance data and rankings
  • Detailed analysis of competitive forces and the external environment
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Industry Statistics and Trends

Market size and recent performance (2014-2029)

Industry revenue has grown at a CAGR of 0.4 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated $72.1bn in 2024.

Trends and Insights

Community colleges haven't made up for quarantine dropouts yet

  • Many students deferred or delayed enrollment in 2020 as pandemic lockdowns rolled out. While some returned the following year, a large group entered straight into the workforce and didn't return to school.
  • Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Community Colleges in the US
Revenue (2014-2029)
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Industry outlook (2024-2029)

Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.

Trends and Insights

Universities' expensive price tags will make community colleges more attractive

  • Ballooning student debt has made many recent high school graduates skeptical of a college education's return on investment. President Biden's sweeping student debt forgiveness was blocked by the Supreme Court, keeping the price tag of college central to many considering higher education.

Biggest companies in the Community Colleges in the US

Company
Market Share (%)
2024
Revenue ($m)
2024
Profit ($m)
2024
Profit Margin (%)
2024
California Community Colleges
1,909.0
145.5
7.6

To view the market share and analysis for all 1 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.

Products & Services Segmentation

Community Colleges in the US
Products & Services
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Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Liberal arts and sciences associate degrees, Healthcare profession associate degrees and Business associate degrees. Liberal arts and sciences associate degrees is the largest segment of the Community Colleges in the US.

Trends and Insights

Certificate and nondegree programs help students prepare quickly

  • Certificate and nondegree programs can be completed in less than a year and are more focused on employment preparation than continued education.
  • More insights available in the full report

Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

This industry includes public, private, nonprofit and for-profit community colleges. These post-secondary educational institutions offer college transfer courses and programs as well as occupational and general academic programs. Community colleges generally confer associate degrees, certificates or diplomas below the baccalaureate level. This industry does not include trade and technical schools (Alfabank-Adres report 61151) or business certification and IT schools (61144).

What's included in this industry?

Providing associate degree educationProviding technical and vocational certificate educationPreparing students for transfers to four-year colleges and universitiesProviding continuing and adult education

Companies

California Community Colleges

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Related Terms

TITLE IVONLINE EDUCATIONHIGH SCHOOL RETENTION RATE

Industry Code

NAICS 2017

NAICS 61121 - Community Colleges in the US

Performance

Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.

Analyst insights

Enrollment has returned to growth after years of decline. Concerns over four-year universities' hefty price points have promoted community colleges, though enrollment remains...

In this chapter (4)

  • Current Performance
  • Outlook
  • Volatility
  • Life Cycle

Key metrics

  • Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
  • Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
  • Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
  • Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business

Charts

  • Revenue, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Employees, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Businesses, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Profit, including historical (2014-2024)
  • Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
  • Industry Life Cycle

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
  • Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
  • Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
  • How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.

Products and Markets

Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.

Analyst insight

Certificates are popular options for students. These programs are quick and cheap, allowing students to enter or return to the workforce sooner rather than later.

In this chapter

  • Products & Services
  • Major Markets

Key metrics

  • Largest market segment and value in 2024
  • Product innovation level

Charts

  • Products & services segmentation in 2024
  • Major market segmentation in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
  • Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
  • Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
  • Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services

Geographic Breakdown

Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.

Analyst insights

Distribution follows population and population density. Municipalities and state governments mostly fund community colleges, and densely populated regions can be serviced by ...

In this chapter (1)

  • Business Locations

Charts

  • Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each state
  • Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2024

Tables

  • Number and share of establishments in each state in 2024
  • Number and share of revenue each state accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of wages each state accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of employees in each state in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Geographic spread of the industry across North America, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
  • Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage

Competitive Forces

Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.

Analyst insights

Community colleges must offer low prices. The main benefit of community college over a four-year institution is the cheaper financial burden on the student, and comprehensive...

In this chapter (4)

  • Concentration
  • Barriers to Entry
  • Substitutes
  • Buyer & Supplier Analysis

Key metrics

  • Industry concentration level
  • Industry competition level and trend
  • Barriers to entry level and trend
  • Substitutes level and trend
  • Buyer power level and trend
  • Supplier power level and trend

Charts

  • Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2019-2024
  • Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart

Detailed analysis

  • Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
  • Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
  • Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
  • Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
  • Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
  • Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
  • Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
  • Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
  • Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.

Companies

Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.

Analyst insights

California Community Colleges is the only major player. Most colleges are funded by state governments or municipalities and distributed in line with population nationwide.

In this chapter

  • Market Share Concentration
  • Companies
  • Company Spotlights

Charts

  • Industry market share by company in 2020 through 2024
  • Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2024
  • Overview of California Community Colleges's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Description and key data for California Community Colleges, and factors influencing its performance in the industry

External Environment

Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.   

Analyst insights

State and local governments fund community colleges. Federal assistance makes up less than 3.0% of revenue, while state and local governments provide over half. The reliance ...

In this chapter

  • External Drivers
  • Regulation & Policy
  • Assistance

Key metrics

  • Regulation & policy level and trend
  • Assistance level and trend

Charts

  • Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 
  • Assistance historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 

Detailed analysis

  • Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
  • Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
  • Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.

Financial Benchmarks

View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time. 

Analyst insights

Over half of industry revenue goes to wages. Hiring and retaining brilliant academics is expensive but is a must to maintain accreditation and compete with four-year universi...

In this chapter

  • Cost Structure
  • Financial Ratios
  • Key Ratios

Key metrics

  • Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
  • Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
  • Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
  • Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio

Charts

  • Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Investment vs. share of economy

Data tables

  • Industry Multiples (2017-2022)
  • Industry Tax Structure (2017-2022)
  • Income Statement (2017-2022)
  • Balance Sheet (2017-2022)
  • Liquidity Ratios (2017-2022)
  • Coverage Ratios (2017-2022)
  • Leverage Ratios  (2017-2022)
  • Operating Ratios (2017-2022)
  • Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Employee (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Establishment (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Average Wage (2014-2029)
  • Wages/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Establishments per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • IVA/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Imports/Demand (2014-2029)
  • Exports/Revenue (2014-2029)

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability 

Key Statistics

Industry Data

Data Tables

Including values and annual change:

  • Revenue (2014-2029)
  • IVA (2014-2029)
  • Establishments (2014-2029)
  • Enterprises (2014-2029)
  • Employment (2014-2029)
  • Exports (2014-2029)
  • Imports (2014-2029)
  • Wages (2014-2029)

Top Questions Answered

Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.

What is the market size of the Community Colleges in the US industry in United States in 2024?

The market size of the Community Colleges in the US industry in United States is $72.1bn in 2024.

How many businesses are there in the Community Colleges in the US industry in 2024?

There are 397 businesses in the Community Colleges in the US industry in United States, which has declined at a CAGR of 1.3 % between 2019 and 2024.

Has the Community Colleges in the US industry in United States grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the Community Colleges in the US industry in United States has been growing at a CAGR of 0.4 % between 2019 and 2024.

What is the forecast growth of the Community Colleges in the US industry in United States over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the Community Colleges in the US industry in United States is expected to grow.

What are the biggest companies in the Community Colleges in the US market in United States?

The biggest company operating in the Community Colleges market in United States is California Community Colleges

What does the Community Colleges in the US in United States include?

Providing associate degree education and Providing technical and vocational certificate education are part of the Community Colleges in the US industry.

Which companies have the highest market share in the Community Colleges in the US in United States?

The company holding the most market share in United States is California Community Colleges.

How competitive is the Community Colleges in the US industry in United States?

The level of competition is low and increasing in the Community Colleges in the US industry in United States.

Related Industries

Widen your competitive advantage with related industries

Competitors

  • Business Coaching in the US
  • Trade & Technical Schools in the US
  • Fine Arts Schools in the US
  • Colleges & Universities in the US
  • For-Profit Universities in the US

Complementors

  • Public Schools in the US
  • Private Schools in the US

International industries

  • Colleges & Universities in Canada
  • University and Other Higher Education in Australia
  • Universities in New Zealand
  • Universities in the UK
  • Hochschulen

View all industries in United States

Methodology

How are Alfabank-Adres reports created?

Alfabank-Adres has been a leading provider of trusted industry research for over 50 years to the most successful companies worldwide. With offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and China, we are proud to have local teams of analysts that conduct research, data analysis and forecasting to produce data-driven industry reports.

Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for Alfabank-Adres readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of Alfabank-Adres’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.

Alfabank-Adres relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.

What data sources do Alfabank-Adres analysts use?

Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.

Key data sources in the US include: 

  • US Census Bureau
  • US Bureau of Labor Statistics
  • US International Trade Commission

Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.

These sources include:

  • Industry and trade associations
  • Industry federations or regulators
  • Major industry players annual or quarterly filings

Finally, Alfabank-Adres’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.

How does Alfabank-Adres forecast its data?

Alfabank-Adres’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.

Alfabank-Adres prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools. We are proud to be the keystone source of industry information for thousands of companies across the world.

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