Community College Initiative Program (Fully Funded)

The Community College Initiative (CCI) Program provides scholarships for participants from eligible countries to spend up to one academic year at a U.S. community college. It is a non-degree academic program designed to help participants build technical skills, leadership capabilities, professional skills, and English language proficiency while studying in the United States. Since the program began in 2007, more than 80 community colleges have hosted over 3,800 participants from 28 countries.

Through the Community College Initiative Program, participants develop leadership and professional skills, improve their English language proficiency, and learn about U.S. culture through academic coursework, professional internships, service learning, cultural exchange, and community engagement activities.

The scholarship awards, eligibility requirements, and application process can vary by country and program cycle. To get the details for your country, contact the U.S. Embassy, U.S. Consulate, or Fulbright Commission that processes applications in your country.

What is a Community College?

A community college is a type of postsecondary institution in the United States. Community colleges are sometimes called junior, technical, city, or two-year colleges. They are usually community-based institutions with close links to local schools, community groups, and employers.

One of the main differences between community colleges and four-year colleges or universities is tuition. Community college tuition is often lower than tuition at four-year institutions, which can help students reduce the overall cost of earning a degree.

Another major difference is the type of degree offered. Community colleges commonly offer two-year associate degree programs and technical or vocational programs. Some community colleges also offer a limited number of four-year bachelor’s degree programs. Many students use the “2+2” transfer model, completing two years at a community college and then transferring to a four-year college or university to finish a bachelor’s degree.

Housing options can also differ. Some community colleges provide dormitory housing, but on-campus housing is not available at every institution. When dormitories are not available, colleges may help international students find a host family, room, or apartment off campus.

Eligible Countries for the Community College Initiative Program

Participating countries can change by academic year, and the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs determines the participating countries, fields of study, and number of nominations each year. The latest public CCI Program cohort announced by the Community College Consortium was the 2024–25 cohort, which included participants from the following 15 countries:

1. Azerbaijan
2. Bangladesh
3. Brazil
4. Colombia
5. Dominican Republic
6. Egypt
7. Ghana
8. India
9. Indonesia
10. Mexico
11. Nigeria
12. South Africa
13. Tunisia
14. Turkey
15. Ukraine

Because the list can change, applicants should check the official Community College Initiative Program page or their local U.S. Embassy, U.S. Consulate, or Fulbright Commission for the current application cycle.

If you are not eligible for this program because your country is not participating in the current cycle, there are still scholarships available for international students.

Community College Initiative Program Award

The CCI Program provides substantial scholarship support. Exact financial provisions may vary by country or program cycle, but recent official program materials list support such as:

1. J-1 visa support
2. Round-trip travel from the participant’s home city or country to the U.S. host institution and return travel at the end of the program
3. Tuition and community college fees
4. Housing and meals or a maintenance allowance for lodging, food, clothing, and incidental purchases
5. Educational materials, such as books and other required study equipment
6. Limited accident and sickness coverage that meets J-1 visa requirements
7. Academic, cultural, service learning, professional development, and alumni activities

Even though the program provides major funding, participants should still keep emergency funds and extra funds available for personal expenses that may not be covered by the scholarship.

Scholarship Benefits: Community College Initiative Program

1. Academic coursework in eligible CCI fields of study
2. Technical and professional skills building
3. Professional internships, when available
4. Service learning and community engagement
5. Cultural exchange activities
6. Leadership development
7. Action planning, community impact projects, and alumni engagement

For details about these benefits, visit the official Community College Initiative Program page and the Community College Consortium website.

How to Apply: Community College Initiative Program

1. Check whether your country participates in the Community College Initiative Program for the current application cycle. You can find general information here.
2. If your country participates, contact the U.S. Embassy, U.S. Consulate, or Fulbright Commission in your country. Recruitment and nominations are handled locally, and application requirements can vary by country.
3. Follow the current instructions, deadline, and document requirements provided by the U.S. Embassy, U.S. Consulate, or Fulbright Commission in your country.

Because program cycles and country-specific instructions change, applicants should not rely on old application PDFs. Use the current official program page and the current country-specific instructions from the U.S. Embassy, U.S. Consulate, or Fulbright Commission that manages applications in your country.

We hope that you will take full advantage of this valuable program if it is available in your country.

We hope that this article on the Community College Initiative Program was helpful. Make sure to also check out the Available Programs for International Students!