• Background
• Methodology
• The Classification System
• Reference

A well-known classification system for higher education in the United States was developed by the Carnegie Commission on Higher Education. Originally published in 1973—and refined and updated in 1976, 1987, 1994, and 2000— the Carnegie classification system divides colleges and universities into categories based on their degree-granting activity (doctoral, master's, baccalaureate, and associate's). In addition, the Carnegie classification system identifies myriad "specialized institutions," such as theological seminaries, schools of law, teachers colleges, and medical schools.

A limitation of the Carnegie classification system is how 2-year institutions are categorized. While there are six distinct subcategories for 4-year institutions, the 2000 Carnegie classification system places the 1,669 institutions that offer associate of arts degrees or certificates and— with few exceptions—offer no baccalaureate degrees into a single grouping, Associate's Colleges (The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching 2000). This single grouping of institutions accounts for more institutions than Doctoral/Research Universities, Master's Colleges and Universities, and Baccalaureate Colleges combined (1,478). Furthermore, the Carnegie classification includes only accredited and degree-granting institutions, excluding over 700 of the 2,427 2-year institutions with participation agreements for Title IV student aid funds, as found in the 1997-98 "Institutional Characteristics Survey" of the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) database.

About half of all students in postsecondary education are enrolled in 2-year institutions.¹ Placing all 2-year institutions into one category, thereby masking their differences, has limited the understanding of this crucial segment of higher education. While community colleges and other 2-year institutions often share a commitment to open access, comprehensiveness, and/or responsiveness to local needs, these unique American inventions are in fact a disparate group of institutions. The purpose of this report is to describe a classification system for 2-year institutions that can contribute to research and provide a framework for policy discussions.

This study used the IPEDS database. The universe of institutions consists of 2,068 Title IV participating 2-year postsecondary institutions that met the data criteria for this study.² K-means cluster analysis—in combination with various other procedures— was the primary method used to classify these institutions.

Cluster analysis is a multivariate statistical procedure that attempts to mathematically form "clusters," or groups of relatively homogenous entities, based on measures of similarity with respect to specific variables, while maximizing the differences between groups. A focus group of experts in the field—researchers, association leaders, and policy analysts—along with preliminary data analysis, determined which variables were both policy relevant and appropriate to be included in the cluster analysis procedure. The results of the cluster analysis, in conjunction with subsequent analyses, revealed which variables created the most distinguishable categories of institutions.

The universe of institutions was first separated into three sectors by institutional control—public, private not-for-profit, and private for-profit. Further analyses were conducted within each sector, resulting in the seven-category classification system described below (figure A).

Size of institutional enrollment is the most distinguishing characteristic of public 2-year institutions. Below is a brief description of the three categories within this sector:

Figure A.—Classification system of 2-year institutions

Community Development and Career Institutions are institutions with an unduplicated headcount of less than 2,000 students. These institutions tend to confer awards and degrees primarily in job and career skills development, and to focus on overall workforce development for the communities they serve.

Community Connector Institutions are institutions with an unduplicated headcount of 2,000 to 9,999 students. These institutions tend to confer awards and degrees that target job and career skills development, and to offer academic programs with some component of general education that can facilitate transfer to 4-year institutions.

Community Mega-Connector Institutions are institutions with an unduplicated headcount of at least 10,000 students. These institutions tend to be in urban locations, to confer awards and degrees that target job and career skills development, and to offer academic programs with some component of general education that can facilitate transfer to 4-year institutions.

The percentage of total awards granted that are in allied health programs is the distinguishing characteristic of private not-for-profit 2-year institutions. Two categories were created within this sector:

Allied Health Institutions are institutions that grant 100 percent of their awards in allied health programs. These institutions tend to be small in enrollment and to have an exclusive focus on allied health training.

Connector Institutions are institutions that grant less than 100 percent of their awards in allied health programs. These institutions tend to confer awards and degrees that target job and career skills development, and to offer academic programs with some component of general education that can facilitate transfer to 4-year institutions.

A distinguishing characteristic of private for-profit 2-year institutions is the percentage of total awards granted that are certificates. Below is a description of the two categories within this sector:

Career Connector Institutions are institutions that grant less than 100 percent of their awards as certificates. They are degree-granting institutions—although many also offer certificates—that target job and career skills development. Many of these institutions offer academic programs with some component of general education that can facilitate transfer to 4-year institutions.

Certificate Institutions are institutions that grant 100 percent of their awards as certificates. These institutions provide specialized training, usually in a single job category or area.