Four-year colleges are not the only option anymore for higher education. Career colleges have become commonplace for earning diplomas, certificates, associate degrees, and more. They are usually ideal for working adults, but students of all ages may attend. Oftentimes, those who attend career colleges already know exactly what they want to specialize in and work toward getting the proper education. The Career College Association (CCA) supports these types of schools and all of its faculty, administrators, and students.

The CCA aims to advance the career and educational goals of all its members. According to Career.org (the official website for the CCA), the organization strives "to serve our members by promoting access, accountability and excellence in career and professional higher education." It is made up of over 1,400 members, which comprises many different private career and technical schools from across the country, as well as 200 corporate partners.

The CCA seeks to make an impact on and influence decisions regarding specific educational matters, such as the Higher Education Act. As a result, the CCA represents its members in our nation's capital so that they may have clout when making important educational decisions that will affect all members.

A CCA member institution includes those that seek to award its students with a wide variety of career-focused degrees. These range from diplomas to doctoral degrees. Common fields include those in information technology, medical, and culinary management fields, among others. CCA member institutions are not just any old school - they must be accredited by a valid accrediting body and recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

As a member of the CCA, institutions get discounts to special events and workshops held specifically for member institutions. They also get access to the members-only portion of the website that provides timely and imperative educational information. There is also the opportunity for scholarship support through the CCA's foundation, among other opportunities.

CCA also hosts an annual convention and exposition to give its members the chance to network and learn from special programs it creates. Furthermore, the CCA gives its member institutions the chance to learn even more with its quarterly publication, the Link, and its periodic newsletters.