Public technical colleges may offer either certificates, diplomas or associate's degrees. Not only are many applicants for certificate and diploma programs not subject to GPA minimums in order to gain entry, but some technical colleges don't even require applicants to these programs to have a high school diploma or GED. Since many students earning technical certificates are either mid-career students or know a degree isn't required for the career field they want to enter, whether a student was a strong student in high school--an educational experience that may have occurred many years ago--is usually not relevant to admissions offices at these colleges.
At public, two-year community colleges, students are earning associate's degrees, so they can either continue to study at the collegiate level in pursuit of a bachelor's degree or so they can begin a career. Most community colleges exist to serve students in a particular locale and, like technical colleges, enroll many students whose high school experience finished many years ago. For these students, factors other than high school performance are factored into an admissions committee's decision about whether a student can gain entry. For recent high school graduates, two-year schools exist to provide opportunities for individuals who want to prove they can succeed at academic study despite past successes or failures.
A proprietary college is a for-profit institution that grants either technical certificates, diplomas, associate's degrees or bachelor's degrees. While applicants will generally be asked to present a copy of their high school transcripts, a minimum GPA usually isn't required to gain entry. Since they don't receive public funds, proprietary colleges may be more expensive to attend than public institutions. Still, they represent an educational opportunity for students whose GPA is too low for admission to a university. Trade schools like beauty and culinary schools also fall under the proprietary college umbrella.
Many online colleges also do not require a minimum GPA for admission. Students with high school diplomas whose GPAs are not very competitive can earn associate's degrees, bachelor's degrees, and, in some cases, can pursue graduate studies through e-learning at online colleges.