Problem/Objective: Data on tobacco use among college students have helped make students in post-secondary education a tobacco control priority group. However, the focus has mostly been on students in 4-year institutions despite the fact that approximately half of the students in post-secondary education are enrolled in 2-year technical or community colleges. Little is known about the health behaviors of this group of students who tend to be older, more racially and ethnically diverse, and more “blue collar” than their 4-year college counterparts. This group also has fewer health and wellness services available to them from the institutions in which they matriculate.

Methods: Because this understudied and underserved population could be potentially important to tobacco control efforts among young adults, Boynton Health Service at the University of Minnesota conducted tobacco-use surveys in 2005 and 2006 among students enrolled in 11 public 2-year institutions along with students enrolled in 3 public 4-year universities and 8 private 4-year colleges. These surveys of over 14,000 students provide important new tobacco use information on students in 2-year institutions and allow comparison with students in 4-year institutions.

Results: Higher current tobacco use rates and higher daily use rates were found among 2-year students along with lower age of initiation of tobacco use. More current tobacco users among 2-year students defined themselves as smokers compared to current tobacco users at 4-year schools.

Conclusions: This unique survey of students at 2-year schools will be crucial in developing cessation, prevention, and policy strategies to reduce overall tobacco use in young adults.