In this study I explored the existing perceptions of community college in the western suburbs of Chicago, Illinois. Three different groups of people were interviewed in the research process including high school students, college students and citizens who lived in towns supported by a community college. Common themes of perception found within the interview groups were location, cost, materialism or image, need for more online education, and access for four-year degrees on a community college campus. These perceptions bolster the need for community college support. They also reinforce the missions community colleges face in our changing world of educational technology and world economy.