Online college may be the best fit for your schedule. Online schools never close, never reschedule and serve just you. Check out these online colleges:

Strayer University
Berkeley College
University of Phoenix
Everest College
UMUC
Virginia College

Unless you are the ultimate party animal or a consummate insomniac, 2.30 am is sleep time. However, while most people are slumbering contently Winston Chin is learning the finer points of English Literature. Chin is among the many students who find that, due to inflexible schedules or a school’s overcrowding, they can only study their chosen subjects at night. Chin’s classmates include a taxi dispatcher who has aspirations of going into medicine, a Dunkin’ Donuts cashier who wants to be a homicide detective and a landscaper who wants to be a state trooper. Chin himself wants to get into nursing.

The New York Times reports how community colleges across the country are some of the few that are actually benefiting from the recession. The Times reports how Bunker Hill, Winston Chin’s school, has been forced to add: “makeshift parking lots, rent extra space and keep thousands of students on waiting lists this fall. “ The article reports how the school offers two midnight classes while Clackamas Community College holds a welding class until 2am. Many other schools are offering 6am classes, which are especially convenient for those with other jobs.

Community College is becoming a popular option for High School graduates who find the cost of college overwhelming. It is also more viable for part time students who have other jobs. The American Association of Community Colleges says that some colleges have experienced increases of over 35%. President Obama’s has also pledged to execute a $12 billion plan to increase the number of community college graduates by five million by 2020.

However for now, many colleges find they simply cannot keep up with the demand. State funding had been decreased during the recession and so many schools find they are swamped with applications. With 170,000 students Miami Dade College is the nation’s largest community college and found that 30,000 did not get their desired timetables and 5,000 students were turned away altogether. The college did not add a single class this year, despite demand.

The New York Times continues: “At De Anza College in Cupertino, Calif., about 8,000 students found themselves on wait lists last month, as did 7,500 students at Central Oregon Community College. And in New York City, where the six community colleges that are part of the City University of New York experienced a record 9 percent enrollment increase this fall, most closed enrollment early for the first time.”

However, Wick Sloane, who teaches Mr. Chin’s class, has found that despite somewhat uninspiring resources, and the late hour of the class, his students respond energetically and with enthusiasm. Says Mr. Chin:  “He’s got me engaged, which is not easy at this time of night.”

There are many reasons why community colleges are experiencing an influx of applicants. The recession has forced people to reevaluate their finances and many people are realizing that four year colleges are just too pricey. Community colleges are less expensive and offer similar programs to their students. Further to this, community colleges offer programs that vary in length and suit different schedules. Most employers expect a degree of some sort and so those who previously may have opted out of college can still earn a degree at community college. Associate degrees or diplomas show employers that you can dedicate yourself to a routine and apply yourself to a specific task. Community colleges tend to be smaller and therefore students can interact better among themselves and with their professors. A huge 43% of student enrolled in third level education attend community colleges. Community colleges are also hugely important to mature students returning to school or those with other jobs or families.  

Check out some of these jobs that you can get with a degree from a community college

• Medical Assistant
• Nursing Assistant
• Dental Hygienists
• Network and Computer system administrators