12 Best Community Colleges in Jamaica (2024)

 12 Best Community Colleges in Jamaica

Do you want to study in one of the best community colleges in Jamaica?

Community colleges in Jamaica are known for their affordability due to the absence of on-campus housing costs, food plans, and other above related with a larger university, as well as the more occasions students have.

Students benefit from financial aid such as scholarships and grants.

12 Best Community Colleges in Jamaica

These colleges can tap into student worries and provide answers and reassurance about their safety and college experience.

#1. Knox Community College

Knox Community College is amongst the best community colleges in Jamaica.

It was established in 1975 and is a coeducational institution located in Spalding, Jamaica. It has four campuses: Spalding, Cobbla, May Pen and Mandeville. Although the College started with only three academic programs.

Today there are more than 50 programs in a variety of disciplines that cap in the award of certificates, diplomas, associate degrees, and bachelor's degrees.

This college is a leading educational institution that operates under the support of the United Church of Jamaica and the Cayman Islands and the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information.

It meets the educational needs of all students in central Jamaica. The various studies they offers include:

• Mathematics
• Business Studies
• Early childhood education
• Professional development
• Business Administration
• Information technology
• Medical care
• Chartered accountant qualification
• Agricultural technology

The college also provides a list of scholarship programs to help students who are facing financial difficulties to achieve their academic goals.

#2. Excelsior Community College

This is also recommended amongst the best community colleges in Jamaica.

Whichever of their schools, programs or campuses you choose, they guarantee that your education at ECC will be top-class.

The college five faculties offer a range of diverse and fascinating programs.

Excelsior Community College (ECC) has a varied choice of resources accessible to students, specifically aimed at improving their learning experience and inclusive well-being during their stay.

In addition to encouraging academic excellence, the college philosophy focuses on the development of well-rounded individuals, and in this regard, facilities are provided for the profit of members of the college community.

Excelsior Community College is accredited by the University Council of Jamaica which ensures that their degrees are recognized globally for higher education and employment opportunities.

The college offers certificate, diploma, and associate degree programs in a range of subjects including Accountancy, Marketing Management, Public Administration, Entrepreneurship Management, and Health Information Management.

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#3. Montego Bay Community College (MBCC)

Montego Bay Community College is listed amongst the best community colleges in Jamaica.

The University College of West Jamaica is the oldest and most diverse tertiary institution in West Jamaica.

They strive to provide students with the knowledge and skills they need to further their education, have a successful career and lead a rewarding personal life.

With the help of their dedicated faculty and staff, the school offers over 32 degrees and certificate programs, as well as evening and weekend classes at two beautiful campuses.

Whether you are starting from scratch, Montego Bay Community College can take you where you want to go. They offer you higher education resources such as:

• Get a college degree
• Career preparation or launching your career
• Learn new skills

Many students at Montego Bay Community College also choose to enrol in online courses.

Some of the majors offered by Montego Bay Community College include:

• Business Administration and Management,
• Criminal Justice/Law Enforcement Administration;
• National Security Studies;
• Computer Science;
• Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences,
• General; Hospitality Administration/Management,
• General; and Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies.

#4. Brown's Town Community College

Brown's Town Community College was established in 1975 and is one of the best community colleges in Jamaica under the sponsorships of the Department of Education.

The college is committed to being a world-class institution that affords the highest quality education and training.

This decent institution can value its humble beginnings to the work of some exceptional people with great vision and anticipation.

Brown's Town Community College

The college has always recognized a team of highly qualified geniuses.

They are devoted to meeting the changing needs of students as they follow their educational and career goals fundamental in achieving its vision of becoming a world-class institution.

The College has therefore been required to select and retain competent faculty members.

The college also contributes to the socio-economic development of the community, Jamaica, and the world by providing a cooperative environment that enhances the knowledge, skills, and attitudes of its students. This includes:

• A student-centred
• Community-focused
• Eco-friendly
• Technology-driven institution

The college offers degrees at all levels to the students.

These degrees are offered by the university in different levels such as Associate degree, bachelor' degree, master' degree, and Doctoral degree.

The different types of degrees offered by Brown's Town Community College are as follows:

• Bachelor of Arts (BA)
• Bachelor of Science (BSc)
• Masters in Business Administration (MBA)
• Doctorate of Philosophy (PhD.)

#5. Portmore Community College Old Harbour

This is also listed amongst the best community colleges in Jamaica. 

At Portmore Community College, they consider their students as the number one priority.

Their admissions staff are some of the best you will ever meet. 

Their teachers genuinely care about the students and tend to go above and beyond to help them.

They offer four bachelor's degrees in business studies, hospitality and tourism management, management information systems (MIS) and social work.

They also offer a variety of associate degree programs, in Architectural and Building Technology, Business Studies, Computer Applications and Business Studies (CABS).

At Portmore Community College, they offer professional certification programs, professional certifications such as Registered Nurse Assistant and Pharmacy Technician.

#6. Moneague Community College (St. Ann)

Moneague College is the first amongst the best community colleges in Jamaica to deliver quality programs.

It provides strong leadership, and nurture global citizens who respond to societal needs and possess relevant skills in a dynamic social, intellectual, and political landscape.

Moneague College is located in a small rural village in St. Ann. Moneague college is committed to providing excellent teaching and learning experiences.

This is through passionate, qualified, and experienced faculty and diverse modalities, using world-class technologies in a supportive and student-friendly environment, producing thus global citizens with skills and competencies for lifelong learning.

Because of their small size, community colleges can change and adapt quickly, whether it's offering new academic programs or in-demand professional training, or quickly welcoming students and offering them different teaching methods during a pandemic.

Current programs offered include:

• Bachelors in Education
• All Bachelors
• Associate degrees
• Continuing education
• Certificates and short courses

#7. The Mico Community College

Mico community is also amongst the most recommended community colleges in Jamaica.

It continues to meet the needs and expectations of students and employers worldwide with over 20 programs the vast majority of which are accredited by the University Council of Jamaica (UCJ).

All undergraduate programs prepare teachers to earn a B.Ed. or a B.Sc. and contain hands-on experiences that enable authentic learning.

With its variety of programs and flexible options, higher education is more accessible than ever. To support national and regional development through well-educated populations.

This is by preparing students to acquire the knowledge, skills, attitudes and values ​​required for teacher education, and by promoting a culture of research, learning and service through our talented and dedicated staff.

The Mico Community College

As a student-centred institution, we are committed to providing our students with the highest quality education through a holistic learning environment that encourages research and scholarship, nurtures them and prepares them to acquire the knowledge, skills, abilities, morals and values ​​required to become transformational leaders in a complex and ever-changing world.

Students may take courses that are not offered in a given semester or that conflict with their course curriculum at their four-year institution of higher education.

Two-year colleges are also more geographically accessible and offer more flexible schedules, often offering some courses year-round.

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#8. Mel Nathan College

This is amongst the community colleges in Jamaica. It is a private institution of higher education.

Mel Nathan community College began accepting students in 2004. One of the attractions in Jamaica's capital is the main campus of Mel Nathan College.

Mel Nathan College is one of the best educational institutions in the country, consistently demonstrating a high standard of education.

Mel Nathan College ranks in the National Rankings of Jamaica, this impressive achievement has been achieved in less than 20 years.

It offers masters, licenses, associate degrees or equivalent.

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#9. St. John College

Since its inception in 1980, St. John's College of Nursing has remained true to the central commitment to provide balanced and comprehensive nursing education and clinical skills.

The college, which has a staff of 84, including 70 teachers and 14 non-teachers, has 7 full-fledged teaching departments devoted to various fields of nursing.

The various departments are:

• Fundamentals of Nursing
• Nursing Administration and Education
• Obstetrics and Gynecology Nursing
• Psychiatric nursing
• Community Health Nursing
• Child health nursing
• Medical-Surgical Nursing

Many students come to this college every year because it has been recognized by many people as one of the best community colleges in Jamaica.

The reason why this school is so popular is that it offers courses that are related to health care, nursing, and medicine.

It also provides students with a great opportunity to get into the field of medicine.

Those who want to become doctors can study at Saint John's College (Nursing).

This school was founded in 1854 and it has been offering quality education ever since.

This college has always been very popular among students who come to study here.

The main reason why this school is so popular is that they offer a wide range of courses that are related to health care and medicine.

#10. Mandeville Legal College

Mandeville Legal College is equally amongst the 10 Best Community Colleges In Jamaica which provides legal education for citizens who wish to pursue a career in law or any other legal or paralegal field.

The College also offers courses that are open to the general public.

The courses offered are Legal Secretarial, Court Reporting, Paralegal Studies, Legal Education Certificate Course, Law and Society, Criminal Procedure and Evidence (offered through lecture room only), and other specialized programs.

The College was established in September 1994 with a staff of ten (10). It has since expanded its staff complement to twenty-eight (28).

Mandeville Legal College

The College has eleven (11) classrooms with state-of-the-art equipment such as computers and whiteboards.

Students also benefit from a well-stocked library as well as a computer laboratory.

The College is conveniently located at 1B Albert Street in Mandeville, Manchester.

It occupies the ground floor of the Ministry of Finance building which is centrally located within Mandeville town.

#11. Sam Sharpe Teachers College

Last but not the least, this college is listed amongst the best colleges in Jamaica.

The college has come a long way since it was established in 1975 by the Jamaican government under the World Bank's Program II.

With more than 2,000 students enrolled and 51 staff members today, it continues to deliver an active program of activities to help trainee teachers realize their true potential and contribute to the building of the Jamaican nation.

Since its beginning, the college has trained thousands of professionals who are currently leaving their mark on the development of Jamaica (and the world).

The main program offered at this college was the Teaching Diploma, which lasted three years full-time and four years and two summers part-time.

There are also courses in primary education, early childhood education and special education, guidance and counselling, music, English language and literature.

In addition, the college also offers a Graduate Diploma, Placement and Career Change and Upgrade Program. In 2018, the college opened its diagnostic centre for at-risk students.

The college uses a multidisciplinary team approach to provide children with direct access to clinicians.

They will perform psycho-educational assessment and developmental screening, as well as consultations with other professionals to answer diagnostic questions and offer recommendations for appropriate intervention.

#12 Portmore Community College Portmore

Portmore Community College Portmore cannot be left out amongst the Best Community Colleges In Jamaica that specialises in teaching vocational courses, specifically in the field of Agriculture.

The College has its main campus located in Greater Portmore and other centres across the island which offer specific courses.

Portmore Community College has been offering these programs since it was established in 1991.

The college offers several programs some of which are: Associate Degree (AD) in Agriculture, General Agriculture, and Animal Production.

Students can also get the chance to earn a Certificate, Diploma, or Associate Degree in various fields such as Horticulture, Human Resource Management, Social Work, and Occupational Therapy.

Portmore Community College also offers online courses to those who don’t have the time to attend classes on their campuses.

 

Concluding Remarks 

In summary, Community colleges in Jamaica are two-year post-secondary schools that offer educational programs leading to associate degrees, vocational training, or certification in a professional field.

Also, many community colleges teachers are more available to provide assistance and support to students who need extra help with their studies and personal lives.

Such support services can help make attending community college a positive experience.

Hence, it is worthwhile to apply to any of the colleges cited above.  

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