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New Jersey, the Garden State, has a rich tradition in academics which goes all the way back to the founding of the United States and in many cases beyond. While famous schools like Princeton and Rutgers represent the Ivy League and a major national athletics player respectively, the options for students looking to get a quality, affordable education abound. From northern parts of the state all the way down to Cape May Courthouse at the tip of South Jersey, the community college two-year system is alive and well. Even though schools like Union County Community College date back more than seventy-five years, there continues to be room for growth and adaptation in a state that is situated just across the bridge from major metropolises New York and Philadelphia. Here are some of the standouts among the state’s two-year colleges.

For anyone who believes that two-year colleges are something of a recent phenomenon, they need look no further than Union City Community College, based in Cranford but serving students with a total of four locations across the Garden State. Founded in 1933, there is no community college with a longer history than UCCC, and few as committed to providing students with the resources they need to be successful in the modern world. The school currently boasts 77 different programs of study, everything ranging from classical liberal arts and business programs to graphic design, information systems technology and medical care. Add to that the school’s Phi Theta Kappa society, its commitment to technology and a newspaper that is one of the top campus periodicals in the state, and you have a winning formula.

Students at UCCC can look forward to finishing a degree at four-year universities in the state or around the country, or they can enter directly into the workforce with certificate programs. Among the most notable courses of study are Game Design Creation, Television, Nursing, Print Journalism, Business Marketing and Environmental Science. Besides Cranford, UCCC centers are located in Elizabeth, Plainfield and Scotch Plains.

While not boasting the same lengthy history as Union City Community College, Mercer County CC dates back to 1966 and continues to serve area residents with over 60 degree programs and nearly 50 certificate programs. Dual enrollment at MCCC will mean students who start their academic career at Mercer can move on to four-year programs at state colleges like Rutgers and the New Jersey Institute of Technology. Glancing at the college’s specs, something like the small class size (22 or less on average) has got to jump out at the student looking for individualized attention.

Located at about the midway point between Philadelphia and New York City, MCCC students will have plenty of options when trying to bring career training to play in real world internships or apprenticeships. The extensive offerings in academics include Visual Arts, Music and Dance for the creative type; Exercise Science, Hotel and Restaurant Management and Game Design for cutting-edge programs; and Information Systems Technology, Electronics Engineering and Automotive Technology for students who want to get into very specific tech programs.

Middlesex County Community College in Edison is another place in the state of New Jersey where local students can make just about anything out of their career with the right amount of drive and focus. MCCC boasts over 500 different programs of study, 80 of which include associate degree programs. A look at the catalog of courses and departments will reveal virtually every area of focus for the modern student. Programs like Addiction Studies, Dietetic Technology and Events Planning Management suggest a very modern approach to academics, while more traditional Liberal Arts, Criminal Justice and Business Administration programs round out the school’s offerings.

As in the best community colleges across the state, Middlesex County CC has students from all different backgrounds and age groups working to achieve their dreams fresh out of high school or back after a long spell in the workplace. The healthcare profession is one of the most popular areas of study for local students, with Psychosocial Rehabilitation and Radiography offered alongside Nursing and Dental Hygiene programs.

State students who find themselves looking for affordable higher education in South Jersey can take advantage of the extensive offerings at Atlantic Cape Community College. This part of the Garden State is known for its proximity to Atlantic City, and the Casino Career Institute is one of the most popular programs offered at ACCC. Of course, the world of casinos is not all about gaming, and the Academy of Culinary Arts is another big draw at ACCC.

Beyond these options, over 45 degree programs are available, from Associate of the Arts degrees (with Literature, Sociology and Psychology among the highlights) to Associate of Science programs Criminal Justice, Business Administration and Human Services.