Final answer:
The California Community Colleges system is one of the strongest contenders for having the most higher education institutions, encompassing 116 colleges with a large and diverse student population.
Step-by-step explanation:
When considering which city has the most higher education institutions, one significant contender is the system in California. Particularly, the California Community Colleges system boasts an impressive count with 1.8 million students across 116 colleges. Additionally, this system demonstrates extensive diversity with over 69 percent of its students coming from diverse ethnic backgrounds. The interconnected nature of education in California is notable, where 29 percent of the University of California and 51 percent of California State University graduates began their education at a California Community College. Moreover, nearly half of the students attending these community colleges are not required to pay any fees, thanks in part to the provision of Open Educational Resources (OER) at no cost.