2023 Best Online Community Colleges in New Jersey

Union County College (UCC) is a public institution offering flexible and student-centered instruction. Students may decide to earn college credit in order to transfer to a four-year institution, or they may use the opportunity to earn an associate degree and directly enter the workforce upon graduation. From business to supply chain management, there are various majors that prospective students can choose from.

UCC students who are studying remotely can complete coursework asynchronously and synchronously through the LMS Canvas. Some of the online associate degree programs offered at UCC include Health Science, Criminal Justice, Sociology, Communications, Health Information Technology, and Business Management. Online students at UCC can virtually access academic advising, remote proctoring, and tutoring.

Bergen Community College offers online associate degrees in business administration, criminal justice, information technology, general studies, and psychology. These associate degrees cover general education requirements necessary for the first two years of a bachelor's program for students who want to transfer as well as degree-specific courses to help students prepare for careers and further study in their chosen field.

Online students at Bergen can access all student services virtually, and can connect with resources such as tutoring and writing assistance, career support, and student success coaches from home to help them finish their degree. The college also offers virtual information sessions to help students figure out if online learning is a good fit for them.

At Atlantic Cape Community College (Atlantic Cape), a public institution, prospective students can pursue different associate degrees in various disciplines. Atlantic Cape was the first community college in New Jersey to offer distance education to its students. Atlantic Cape’s online programs are only available in 47 states.

Atlantic Cape facilitates online learning on the LMS Blackboard. Some of the associate degree programs offered at Atlantic Cape include Business Administration, Child Development, Criminal Justice, General Studies, Psychology, and Computer Programming. Online students at Atlantic Cape can also access resources like academic advising, career advising, tutoring, and an online library.

Brookdale Community College (Brookdale) is a public institution. Brookdale delivers online degree programs for busy students who desire the flexibility to complete coursework at their own pace. In addition to online associate degrees, students may also pursue online certificate programs.

At Brookdale, online students complete coursework in asynchronous and synchronous formats via the LMS Canvas. Brookdale’s online associate degree programs include Business Administration, English, History, Liberal Education, Political Science, Psychology, Sociology, and Social Sciences. Online student support at Brookdale includes academic advising, an online library, disability services, tutoring, a writing center, and more.

Rowan College at Burlington County (RCBC) is a public community college serving the Burlington County community through its Mount Laurel campus and online programs. Most students at RCBC take at least some online classes, and 34% are enrolled in online-only programs. RCBC offers more than 20 different online associate degrees and certificates, including programs in liberal arts, accounting, business, criminal justice, health science, math, education, health information technology, cancer registry, and medical billing.

The college uses learning management platform Blackboard to deliver online classes, and students can log in to Blackboard to review class materials, take quizzes, and connect with their peers. RCBC also offers virtual services for online students including career exploration, help with time management, and other components for student success.

Berkeley College is a for-profit school with locations in New Jersey and New York alongside their online campus. The college offers online bachelor's degrees across many subjects, including surgical technology, national security, legal studies, interior design, information technology management, and business. Graduate students can earn either a Master of Business Administration or a Master of Science in Nursing online.

Support for online learning includes a Center for Academic Success, virtual tutoring, virtual study groups, online writing help, and assistance developing a personalized study plan. Qualified students can also apply for different scholarships offered by the college to help lower the cost of their degree.

Rowan College of South Jersey (RCSJ) is a public institution where students can pursue online associate degree programs featuring various areas of interest. RCSJ offers online learning in 5-, 7-, or 15-week classes to fit every student’s learning needs.

At RCSJ, online students complete coursework asynchronously and synchronously via Blackboard. RCSJ’s online associate degree programs include Business Administration, Computer Information Systems, Human Resource Management, Digital Marketing, Communications, Arts and Sciences, History, Psychology, and Sociology. Online student support at RCSJ includes an online bookstore, career services, counseling, tutoring, an online library, academic advising, and more.

Ocean County College (Ocean) is a public institution offering several online associate degrees and certificate programs. Prospective students can submit applications and register for online classes on the same day. In addition, New Jersey online students can pay in-county rates for online courses without paying an application fee.

At Ocean, online students complete coursework in asynchronous formats on the learning management system (LMS) Canvas. This means they can study at their own pace through their chosen program. Some of the online associate degree programs offered at Ocean include Business, Paralegal Studies, Liberal Arts, Computer Science, Criminal Justice, Environmental Studies, and Public Services. Distance learners at Ocean can also access a range of virtual resources, like advising, tutoring, and tech support

Sussex County Community College (SCCC) serves just over 2,000 students through its Newton campus and online programs. About half of students at SCCC are enrolled in online-only programs, including fully online associate degrees in business administration, computer information systems, computer science, information systems, information technology, and liberal arts. Many students use online associate degrees to complete the first two years of a bachelor's program before transferring to a four-year degree, or to gain hands-on skills in areas such as computer science and information technology before entering the workforce.

Distance learners at SCCC log in to Canvas to complete classwork, turn in assignments, and participate in discussion boards. Students can also access virtual services including online tutoring and library resource