List of Online Community Colleges

Community colleges offer the best deals in online associate degrees if cost concerns you. Online community colleges, which are funded by your tax dollars, are dedicated to providing work training, continuing education and online certificates in hot careers such as health care, medical coding and records, legal assisting, and computer programming.

Online community colleges offer unparalleled flexibility and significant cost savings compared to traditional four year colleges, and they’re only growing in popularity. State residents typically pay the lowest tuition for online courses, though some states also allow non-residents to enroll in classes online at a reduced rate. Cost can be as low as $75 per credit, often two to three times cheaper than online associate degrees and certificates offered by private two-year college systems.

This guide breaks down how online community colleges work, what programs are available, and how to pay for them, with a deep dive into East Mississippi Community College as a real-world example.

Online Community Colleges

If you can’t find the online course, certificate or associate degree you need in the Get Educated directory check the list below to see if your state offers online courses or online associate degrees via a public online community college system.

Arizona – Rio Salado Community College Online
One of the largest online community college certificate and degree programs

California Virtual Campus
Guide to online associate degrees and courses from California colleges

Colorado Community Colleges Online
List of 13 community colleges in Colorado that offer online classes, degrees, and certificates

Connecticut Distance Learning Consortium
Online courses and degrees from Connecticut’s accredited colleges and universities

Florida Distance Learning Consortium
List of Florida community colleges online

Illinois Community Colleges Online (ILCCO)
Consortium of Illinois Community Colleges sharing online courses and degree programs

Indiana – Ivy Tech Community College Online
Indiana’s two-year public college system with 350 online classes and 12 online degrees

Iowa Community College Online Consortium
List of e-learning courses and degrees from state colleges in Iowa

Kansas Online Community Colleges Consortium
Public community colleges and two-year online degree programs in Kansas

Kansas City Regional Access Consortium for Higher Education (KC REACHE)
Distance education courses and degrees in Kansas

MarylandOnline
Distance education and e-learning courses in Maryland

Massachusetts Colleges Online (MCO)
List of 15 community colleges and 9 state online colleges in Massachusetts

Michigan Virtual Learning
Online courses and distance degrees from Michigan’s community colleges

Mississippi Virtual Community College Online courses and degrees from Mississippi community colleges

Nevada Higher Education Distance Education Online Course Catalog
List of distance education courses in the state of Nevada

New Hampshire Community Colleges Online
List of 7 NH Community Colleges that offer 100% online courses

New Jersey Virtual Community College Consortium (NJVCCC)
An online partnership of 19 state, public community colleges

New York – SUNY Online Community Colleges
50+ online associate degree programs from the SUNY system

North Carolina – Community Colleges Online
List if 58 institutions in North Carolina Community College System with distance degrees

Ohio Learns Distance Learning Programs
Online catalog and guide to distance learning programs in Ohio

Online College of Oklahoma
Online courses offered by public universities in the Oklahoma State System

Oregon Colleges Community College Directory
Associate degree programs and virtual courses through distance learning

Southern Regional Board’s Electronic Campus
Providing learning opportunities from accredited colleges and universities

Tennessee Online Degree Programs
The Tennessee Board of Regents list of 13 online community college programs

Texas Online Community Colleges
Online courses from Texas community colleges

Community College of Vermont Online
Serving students where they live and work, at 12 academic centers around the state and online

Virginia Community College System Online
Online courses from Community Colleges in Virginia

Washington State Online Learning
Online associate degrees, courses, and certificates from 20+ 2-year colleges

Community and Technical College System of West Virginia
Online and distance learning courses from 11 West Virginia Community Colleges

Wyoming Online Community Colleges
List of distance learning courses from 7 Wyoming Community Colleges

What Is an Online Community College and Why It’s a Good Choice

An online community college is a two-year public institution that delivers coursework through internet-based platforms, allowing students enrolled in its programs to earn associate degrees, certificates, or transfer credits remotely. When a program is described as fully online, every class, assignment, and interaction happens digitally – no required trips to a physical campus (though some programs may require proctored exams or limited lab work).

Online learning provides flexibility for full-time job and family commitments that traditional schedules simply can’t match. Online education eliminates commuting and associated costs, and online colleges allow students to learn at their own pace from anywhere with an internet connection.

How does this compare to a four-year university? The differences are significant:

• Cost: The average in-state tuition at community colleges runs about $3,900–$4,150 per year. Average in-state undergraduate tuition can be as low as $3,335 at many institutions. Four-year public universities typically exceed $10,000 annually for in-state students.
• Admissions: Community colleges are open-admission – no competitive entrance requirements.
• Class size and pace: Online courses at community colleges tend to have smaller class sizes, more direct faculty interaction, and adaptable pacing.
• Transfer pathways: Complete general education requirements affordably, then transfer to a university as a junior.
• Short-term credentials: Career-focused certificates in 6–12 months, fully online.

In many cases, an online community college is a good choice for anyone who values affordable, accessible education with flexible options built in.

How Online Community College Classes Work Day to Day

Online classes come in two main formats. Asynchronous courses do not require specific login times. You watch lectures, complete readings, and submit work on your own schedule within weekly deadlines. Asynchronous is the most common online format in online education. Synchronous courses require students to log in at specific times for live interaction via platforms like Zoom. Many colleges offer both, and students can enroll in online classes like in-person classes through their college’s registration system.

When you log in to a platform like Canvas, Blackboard, or Moodle, you’ll see your class organized into weekly modules. Each module typically contains lecture videos, readings, quizzes, discussion board prompts, and assignment submission portals. Your grades, announcements, and messages from faculty are all in one place.

A standard 3-credit online course generally requires about 9–12 hours of work per week. That includes watching lectures, participating in discussions, completing homework, and studying for exams. Self-discipline matters, weekly deadlines keep you on pace.

Key takeaways for new students:

• Expect to participate weekly (discussion posts, quizzes, or assignment submissions count as attendance).
• Budget roughly three hours of work per credit hour each week.
• Use instructor office hours, discussion boards, and video conferences proactively.
• Set up your tech: reliable internet, up-to-date browser, webcam if required.
• Group projects, peer review, and scheduled instructor office hours are common interaction methods.

Types of Online Programs at Community Colleges

Many community colleges across the nation now offer fully online degrees, certificates, and transfer pathways designed for a wide range of career goals. Online community colleges offer certificates, diplomas, and associate degrees to meet different student needs. Common online programs include Business Administration and Information Technology, though the selection is broad.

Transfer-focused programs:

• Associate of Arts (AA) and Associate of Science (AS) degrees in liberal arts, psychology, business, or general studies. Associate of Arts and Associate of Science degrees transfer to four year colleges and universities.
• Students complete general education online, then transfer as juniors.

Career and technical programs:

• Associate of Applied Science (AAS) in accounting technology, business management, hospitality.
• Career certificates are focused purely on skill-building for specific industries – IT support, medical billing, early childhood education fundamentals – typically completed in 6–12 months.

Short-term certificates:

• Office systems technology, computer applications, welding theory (lecture portion).

Hybrid courses combine online learning with in-person attendance for certain activities, making them common for fields like nursing or advanced manufacturing.

Spotlight: East Mississippi Community College Online Programs

View EMCC Programs

Institutional Roots and Mission

East Mississippi Community College was founded in 1927 and has served the Golden Triangle region of eastern Mississippi for nearly a century. What started as a single-campus institution in Scooba has grown into a multi-campus college with locations including the Golden Triangle Campus, Lion Hills, and the Kemper County site. EMCC is one of 15 public community colleges in Mississippi, and its mission centers on providing accessible, affordable education to its service area – and increasingly, to students well beyond it.

Accreditation and Online Scale

EMCC holds full accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC), which is the same accrediting body that oversees major universities across the Southeast. This means credits earned through EMCC’s online programs carry real weight when it’s time to transfer or enter the job market. Of EMCC’s 92 total degree-granting or certificate programs, 55 major programs are distance learning capable – 6 certificate and 49 associate programs are available fully or largely online. More than 450 online classes are offered each semester, and roughly 46% of EMCC undergraduates study fully online.

How Online Delivery Works at EMCC

EMCC uses Canvas as its Learning Management System. Students access all of their courses through the EMCC portal with a single login, where they find weekly modules containing lecture videos, readings, quizzes, and assignments. Discussion boards and messaging tools help connect students with instructors and classmates, forming the kind of online community that keeps remote learners engaged. Attendance is tracked through weekly participation – submitting assignments, posting on discussion boards, or completing quizzes. Students who fail to participate for three consecutive weeks risk being dropped from the class.

Scheduling and Pacing Details

EMCC runs standard 16-week semesters for fall (starting mid-August) and spring (starting early January), plus intensive 4- to 8-week online terms during summer. In many cases, students can also enroll in 8-week mini-terms during fall and spring, allowing them to focus on two classes at a time rather than juggling four or five. This structure gives students flexible options for balancing work, family, and coursework. Online registration deadlines typically fall shortly before or during the first week of classes, and students must log in during that first week or risk being dropped.

Tuition and Costs

For the 2024–25 academic year, EMCC charges in-state tuition and fees of $4,095 per year – about $165 per credit hour for Mississippi residents. Out-of-state students pay approximately $7,445 per year, or $265 per credit hour. Online students generally pay the same tuition as on-campus in-state students, with no significantly higher “online-only” surcharge. When you compare these numbers to the cost of a four-year university – or even to some out-of-state community college rates that can reach up to $8,576 – EMCC stands out as a genuinely affordable path.

Financial Aid For Online Learners

EMCC online students are eligible for Federal Pell Grants, Federal Direct Loans, and Federal Work-Study. Mississippi residents may qualify for state aid programs like the Mississippi Tuition Assistance Grant (MTAG) or the Mississippi Eminent Scholars Grant (MESG), which reward academic performance and residency status. EMCC also offers its own institutional scholarships – academic merit, career-technical, and foundation awards – with priority application deadlines typically around August 1 for fall and January 2 for spring. The college even publishes a Tuition Guarantee Scholarship for students who enroll full-time the semester immediately after high school graduation. To apply, students complete the FAFSA using EMCC’s federal school code, and the financial aid office supports fully online learners through phone, email, and virtual appointments.

Student Support Services

EMCC doesn’t leave online students to figure things out alone. The college offers online tutoring resources through its eLearning division, and students can access electronic library resources – databases, e-books, interlibrary loan – with live chat or email support from librarians. Academic advising is available via Zoom, phone, or email for degree planning and transfer guidance. Disability Support Services provide accommodations like extended test time, captioned videos, and alternative formats for students who request them. Proctored exams are a requirement in most online courses – students arrange to take them at approved testing centers or through remote proctoring tools.

The MSVCC Connection

EMCC participates in the Mississippi Virtual Community College (MSVCC), a consortium of all 15 Mississippi community colleges. Through MSVCC, EMCC students can take online courses offered by any partner college in the state while remaining EMCC students of record. Advising, financial aid, and support all flow through EMCC as the home college, and credits from MSVCC courses appear directly on the student’s EMCC transcript. This system uses a shared Canvas platform and virtual library resources, making cross-enrollment seamless.

Sample Program Pathways

A student pursuing a two-year AA in Business might take English Composition I, College Algebra, and Introduction to Business in the first semester, followed by Microeconomics, Speech, and Introduction to Psychology in the second – all online and designed to transfer to Mississippi State University or the University of Mississippi. A working adult looking for a faster credential could complete a one-year certificate in Business Management Technology or Office Systems Technology entirely online, with asynchronous lectures and evening submission end dates that accommodate a full-time schedule.

Online Community and Student Life

EMCC builds community among its remote learners through virtual orientation sessions, online student clubs (including Phi Theta Kappa, the international honor society), and social media groups. A typical EMCC online student might be a parent in Columbus, MS completing a fully online AAS while working part-time, or a military-affiliated person stationed out of state taking EMCC courses via the MSVCC partnership.

Admissions and Transfer

The admissions process mirrors on-campus enrollment: submit an application, provide transcripts, and complete any required placement testing. Out-of-state students can enroll online, but should verify that EMCC is authorized to offer distance education in their state. EMCC holds articulation agreements with Mississippi’s public universities, and its SACSCOC accreditation supports broad transferability of credits.

EMCC represents a strong choice for anyone looking to pursue a fully online community college education in the Southeast. Between its affordable tuition, accredited programs, robust support services, and strong transfer outcomes, it checks the boxes that matter most to students who need quality education on a realistic budget.

View EMCC Programs

Common Questions About Online Community Colleges

Here are common questions that come up for people exploring online community college education.

• Are online classes as rigorous as in-person classes? Yes. Online courses maintain the same academic standards as in-person classes, and accredited institutions ensure equal learning outcomes regardless of delivery format.
• How long does it take to complete a fully online associate degree? Approximately two years of full-time study. Part-time students may take three or more years depending on credit load and pace.
• Do credits from online community college courses transfer to universities? In most cases, yes – especially for general education coursework from an accredited institution. Always check articulation agreements and contact the receiving university’s transfer office for details.
• How do proctored exams work? They may be administered through remote proctoring software or at approved local testing centers. Policies differ by college and by course – check your syllabus.
• What if I need to pause or withdraw? Most colleges have refund windows early in the term and official withdrawal deadlines. Re-enrollment is usually permitted the following semester, though you should inform the financial aid office and review how a withdrawal affects your academic standing and aid eligibility.
• What opportunities exist for balancing work and school? Asynchronous formats let you complete coursework around your job. Many colleges offer 8-week terms and evening end dates to accommodate working adults.
• How do I learn more about a specific college’s online programs? Visit the college’s website, contact admissions, or search statewide tools like the California Virtual Campus. You can also reach out to an academic advisor to connect with someone who can walk you through your options.

Online community colleges put accessible, accredited degrees within reach regardless of where you live or how packed your schedule is. Whether you choose EMCC or a different institution anywhere else across the nation, the path to an affordable degree starts with one step: pick a program, enroll, and get started.