More than 11 million students currently attend the nation's 1,173 community colleges, making up 44% of all U.S. undergraduates. Community colleges, also known as junior colleges, give adult learners an easy, affordable way to fit learning around family and work responsibilities. Quite often they offer highly specialized vocational training, especially in the high-tech and healthcare fields. In fact, 60 percent of new nurses and 80 percent of law enforcement officers, firefighters, and emergency medical technicians come out of community colleges.

Community colleges can also serve as an excellent stepping stone to a four-year university. Studies show that students who transfer to four-year schools end up doing as well as those who started there as freshmen. Here are some reasons you might consider beginning your higher education at a two-year college:

You Want to Save Money
According to one report, the average annual tuition at a community college is $1,905, compared to $4,694 for a four-year public university and $19,710 for a four-year private university. Add in room and board and those figures jump up to $10,636 total for a year at a public school and $26,854 for a private school. Even with the relatively low rates at community colleges, nearly a third of students receive financial aid. It's no wonder then that these colleges are an attractive option for cutting costs, especially in a struggling economy. Spending two years in a junior college (and living at home) can give you time to work and save up for the four-year college of your choice. You might even find that you qualify for a scholarship from the school you're transferring to or from an outside organization like Phi Theta Kappa, the honor society for two-year colleges.

You're Looking for Additional Academic Support
For some, community college is a chance to make up for a poor high school record. For others, it is an opportunity to get the extra academic guidance that a four-year school may be unable to offer. "At many four-year colleges, it's sink or swim," says Norma Kent, Vice President for Communications at the American Association of Community Colleges. "Community colleges have smaller class sizes and the priority of the faculty is on teaching. Plus there are lots of support services, like mentoring programs and organized study groups."

This support can give students the boost they need to get admitted to and succeed at a four-year school. Many community colleges have articulation agreements with universities outlining coursework and GPA requirements that, if met, guarantee admission. Starting in Fall 2004, the University of California will offer a Guaranteed Transfer Option to students who are between the top four and 12.5 percent of their high school class but who are not accepted to UC as freshmen. These students will receive extensive transfer counseling and automatic admission after completing a course of study at a California community college. A Web-based transfer planning system called Assist already helps students at California's 108 community colleges figure out how their courses will transfer to both the University of California and California State University systems.

Don't want to stick close to home forever? Community college graduates are not limited to transferring to schools within their region or state. Prestigious public and private institutions are both within reach. Miami-Dade Community College in Florida has articulation agreements with more than 60 schools around the country, including Smith College, Middlebury College, the University of Texas, Michigan State University, Indiana University, Georgia Tech, and the Berklee School of Music in Boston. Even Ivy Leaguer Cornell University has articulation agreements with some two-year schools, including LaGuardia Community College in New York City. The stronger your plan as you enter a community college, the more success you will have when you apply to a four-year school down the line.

You Need or Want to Live at Home
There is a community college within commuter distance of 90 percent of the U.S. population, so convenience is a big selling point. If you have family obligations or just don't feel emotionally ready to strike out on your own, a community college can enable you to continue your education without changing your whole life.

And unlike the schedules at the majority of four-year schools, most community college students take classes part-time, leaving more time to maintain a job. A number of two-year colleges have multiple locations and offer courses online for added flexibility. Because of their convenience, open admissions policies, and low cost, community colleges draw a more varied population than the typical four-year school in terms of race, age, and socioeconomic background. This diversity is, in itself, a draw, particularly to international and older students.

If you decide that community college is right for you, try to pinpoint early what college you'd like to transfer to and find out about its articulation agreements. Meet with an advisor both at your community college and, if possible, the school you eventually hope to attend. Find out about costs and financial aid at your potential transfer school and start budgeting immediately. Perhaps most importantly, take your community college education seriously. College is college, whether it's a two-year or four-year school, and getting off to a good start can be your ticket to a great future.