2015 s Best & Worst Community Colleges

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2015’s Best & Worst Community Colleges

Long perceived as the bottom rung of the higher-education ladder,

community colleges are often made the butt of jokes by just about everyone — from university loyalists to cable TV to some of the very students who attend them. But guess who isn’t laughing: Community-college graduates

out-earning bachelor’s degree holders. Indeed, the “junior colleges,” as they’re sometimes referred to, are finally garnering the respect they deserve, proving they’re more than just “halfway schools for losers”. Much of their “second-rate college” stigma stems from three factors: price, demographics and graduation times. Although their relatively cheaper tuition rates are a clear incentive, affordability also signals subpar educational quality to skeptics. And with an average student age of 28, the nontraditional profile of the typical community-college attendee perpetuates a misconception — one that assumes these students flunked out of high school and consequently failed admissions standards at “real” universities. But in their defense, a vast majority of these students balance their studies with jobs, family or both — commitments that often limit their enrollment to one or two classes per semester and force them to delay graduation.

Across the board, however, community colleges are slowly stacking up against their traditional four-year counterparts. Schedule flexibility, rigorous coursework and smaller class sizes supply the majority of their appeal to first-time college entrants as well as to university students choosing to transfer to community colleges — an emerging trend that goes against the usual grain of

transitioning from a two-year to a four-year institution.

With back-to-school season upon us, WalletHub compared 670 community colleges in the U.S. to find the ones that beat out the rest. Our data set includes a total of 17 key metrics, ranging from the cost of in-state tuition and fees to student-faculty ratio. You can find the results, additional expert commentary and a detailed methodology below. For a state-by-state ranking of the colleges, you can check out our analysis of 2015’s States with the Best & Worst Community College Systems.

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Main Findings

Overall

Rank Community College

‘Cost & Financing’ Rank ‘Classroom Experience’ Rank ‘Education Outcomes’ Rank ‘Career Outcomes’ Rank 1 North Florida Community College (FL) 137 7 7 1

2 Diné College (AZ) 1 25 386 1 3 Chipola College (FL) 65 76 24 86 4 Northwest College

(WY) 30 96 41 150

5 Taft College (CA) 4 63 411 1 6 Itawamba Community

College (MS) 72 62 35 228

111 670670670

7 Southwestern Community College (NC) 184 20 16 476 8 Guttman Community College (NY) 246 2 451 1 9 Patrick Henry Community College (VA) 352 47 190 24 10 Southwest Virginia Community College (VA) 134 144 116 55 11 Porterville College (CA) 10 145 364 1 12 Madisonville Community College (KY) 133 124 38 178 13 Broward College (FL) 362 89 110 35 14 Carolinas College of Health Sciences (NC) 440 12 152 39 15 Southwest Mississippi Community College (MS) 74 138 196 1 16 Wisconsin Indianhead

Technical College (WI) 172 29 1 505 17 Florida Gateway

College (FL) 164 60 52 270 18 Columbia College (CA) 11 148 401 1 19 Chaffey College (CA) 3 264 292 110

20 Phillips Community College of the University of Arkansas (AR) 95 6 324 411

22 Lower Columbia College (WA) 261 33 87 253 23 South Seattle Community College (WA) 193 210 39 1 24 Alvin Community College (TX) 129 195 186 71 25 Lake Washington Institute of Technology (WA) 294 75 135 106

26 _{Technical College (GA)}Southeastern 92 71 34 407 27 Bismarck State College (ND) 116 412 6 66 28 Tacoma Community College (WA) 449 72 75 79 29 Paul D. Camp Community College (VA) 344 4 494 49

30 South Florida State

College (FL) 102 142 43 299 31 GateWay Community College (AZ) 77 73 193 379 32 Virginia Highlands Community College (VA) 382 237 85 33

33 Great Falls College

MSU (MT) 198 30 247 207 34 Valencia College (FL) 336 170 29 107 35 North Central Missouri

College (MO) 126 173 174 121 36 MiraCosta College

37 Butte College (CA) 17 148 68 509 38 San Jacinto College

-Central Campus (TX) 40 309 223 98 39 Renton Technical

College (WA) 400 80 25 231 40 Colby Community

College (KS) 304 218 122 56 41 Western Technical_{College (WI)} 139 307 31 112 42 Bellingham Technical

College (WA) 158 179 84 233 43 Georgia Piedmont

Technical College (GA) 206 43 73 380 44 Miles Community College (MT) 496 111 4 150 45 Lee College (TX) 29 391 12 352 46 Seward County Community College Area Technical School

(KS)

51 254 189 90

47 Ogeechee Technical_{College (GA)} 356 51 50 277

48 Cossatot Community College of the University of Arkansas (AR) 103 276 169 1 49 Estrella Mountain Community College (AZ) 58 100 245 383 50 Galveston College (TX) 61 180 306 143 51 Ozarka College (AR) 236 15 366 217 52 _{Technical College (WI)}Chippewa Valley 136 143 47 375

53 Big Bend Community College (WA) 253 119 48 300 54 Garden City Community College (KS) 150 103 147 285 55 Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute (NM) 48 5 659 1 56 Northern Wyoming Community College District (WY) 31 242 194 278 57 Hopkinsville Community College (KY) 233 230 158 92 58 Western Piedmont Community College (NC) 171 27 178 431 59 Southside Virginia Community College (VA) 428 219 46 91 60 El Paso Community College (TX) 164 152 413 58 61 Tallahassee Community College (FL) 189 318 36 173 62 Western Wyoming Community College (WY) 66 70 89 517 63 Eastern Shore Community College (VA) 266 98 259 1

64 Olympic College (WA) 387 308 43 50 65 Atlanta Technical

66 Daytona State College (FL)

232 196 61 224

67

North Dakota State College of Science

(ND)

212 372 10 168

68 Snow College (UT) 403 114 131 124

69 Northwest Iowa Community College (IA) 379 221 20 96 70 Arkansas State University-Newport (AR) 143 111 243 222 71 Odessa College (TX) 190 61 56 475 72 Everett Community College (WA) 256 338 31 158 73 Casper College (WY) 6 257 144 487

74 Alabama Southern Community College (AL) 305 16 212 387 75 Western Texas College (TX) 145 330 69 228 76 Athens Technical College (GA) 269 252 136 115 77 Scottsdale Community College (AZ) 106 432 165 76 78 West Hills College

Coalinga (CA) 15 175 265 608 79 Northeast Mississippi Community College (MS) 124 248 123 255 80 Itasca Community College (MN) 417 36 28 463 Hazard Community

81 and Technical College (KY)

89 96 101 661

82

Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College (MS) 247 156 181 197 83 University of Arkansas Community College at Batesville (AR) 122 87 103 638

T-84 Florida State College

at Jacksonville (FL) 256 388 59 85 T-84 Shoreline Community_{College (WA)} 420 244 14 217

86

Southeast Kentucky Community & Technical College (KY)

98 38 230 647 87 Surry Community College (NC) 194 74 126 410 88 Davidson County Community College (NC) 201 59 94 466 89 State Technical College of Missouri (MO) 419 258 15 107 90 Alamance Community College (NC) 110 310 326 87 91 Roane State Community College (TN) 151 174 304 177

92 Shawnee Community_{College (IL)} 481 64 214 1 93 Grays Harbor College

(WA) 243 128 104 353

94

South Mountain

(AZ)

95

North Iowa Area Community College (IA) 377 398 3 156 96 East Central Community College (MS) 159 40 329 369 97 Roanoke-Chowan Community College (NC) 83 19 540 397

98 Arkansas Northeastern_{College (AR)} 39 80 134 568 99 Kilgore College (TX) 132 259 255 164 100 North Seattle Community College (WA) 345 338 115 72

101 Los Medanos College

(CA) 86 217 124 398

102 Indian Hills Community

College (IA) 249 126 235 243 103 Cascadia Community

College (WA) 434 104 129 223 104 Riverside City College

(CA) 9 569 144 214 105 White Mountains Community College (NH) 558 295 5 111 106 College of Menominee Nation (WI) 556 24 453 1 107 Wilkes Community College (NC) 178 10 268 530 108 Modesto Junior College (CA) 37 454 418 54

109 Mountain Empire Community College (VA) 214 191 148 304 110 Northwest Technical College (MN) 342 241 111 193 111 Moraine Park

Technical College (WI) 146 325 2 455 112 Isothermal Community College (NC) 153 28 504 321 113 Northern Maine Community College (ME) 176 289 229 146

114 Citrus College (CA) 60 489 164 136 115 Asnuntuck Community

College (CT) 290 200 27 441 116 Aims Community_{College (CO)} 75 134 51 581 117 Centralia College (WA) 160 387 121 167 118 Rich Mountain Community College (AR) 66 232 378 257 119 Central Carolina Community College (NC) 186 139 286 283 120 Dabney S. Lancaster Community College (VA) 131 300 168 263 121

South Puget Sound Community College

(WA)

311 357 93 168

122 Crafton Hills College

(CA) 149 250 308 215

123 Gogebic Community

124 Pierce College District_(WA) 482 92 170 116 125 University of Arkansas Community College at Hope (AR) 93 107 220 646 126 James Sprunt Community College (NC) 277 26 237 639 127 Walters State Community College (TN) 130 290 301 202 128 St. Cloud Technical and Community College (MN) 517 239 157 99 129 Central Community College (NE) 120 459 13 388 130 Washington County Community College (ME) 142 52 272 653

131 Delta College (MI) 413 226 141 205 132 St. Petersburg College

(FL) 216 130 161 584

133 Columbus Technical

College (GA) 316 193 349 1 134 Skagit Valley College

(WA) 297 115 242 336

135 North Arkansas

College (AR) 56 363 270 289 136 Colorado Mountain_{College (CO)} 63 170 309 453 137 Frederick Community

College (MD) 557 272 114 95 Hillsborough

138 Community College (FL) 283 560 119 47 139 Allegany College of Maryland (MD) 501 109 244 164 140 Vermilion Community College (MN) 519 92 96 383 T-141 Ridgewater College (MN) 444 334 17 268 T-141 El Centro College (TX) 147 197 562 104 143 Oxnard College (CA) 53 448 318 161 144 Phoenix College (AZ) 24 324 430 258 145 Zane State College

(OH) 442 45 362 284

146

Alexandria Technical & Community College (MN) 466 454 8 145 147 Kapiolani Community College (HI) 197 271 263 238 148 Florida Keys Community College (FL) 172 454 77 246 149 Kennebec Valley Community College (ME) 284 329 180 202 150 Gaston College (NC) 154 320 105 406 151 Vernon College (TX) 447 327 192 88 152 Sierra College (CA) 66 542 156 207 153 Mt. San Antonio College (CA) 52 205 253 508 154 Helena College University of Montana (MT) 292 192 248 207

155 Paradise Valley Community College

(AZ)

155 463 172 159

156 Bevill State Community

College (AL) 393 185 302 154 157 El Camino College (CA) 27 381 226 552 158 Kirtland Community College (MI) 262 161 355 253 159 Albany Technical College (GA) 601 32 64 450 160 Western Nebraska Community College (NE) 59 167 206 551 161 Washington State Community College (OH) 581 278 81 162 162

Eastern New Mexico University - Roswell

(NM)

117 163 357 534

163 M State Moorhead_{Campus (MN)} 414 296 137 43

164

Northeast Alabama Community College

(AL)

595 265 71 157

165 Moorpark College (CA) 166 660 158 27

166

West Kentucky Community and Technical College (KY)

327 416 18 351

167 Jefferson Community

College (NY) 374 285 269 123 168 Northeast Community_{College (NE)} 179 531 70 83

169 Technical College (WI) 155 297 78 477

170 Darton State College

(GA) 454 176 502 52 171 Grayson College (TX) 78 340 448 226 172 Savannah Technical College (GA) 244 361 49 390 173 Columbia Basin College (WA) 365 444 291 41 174 Texas State Technical_{College Waco (TX)} 103 117 342 507 175 Western Nevada College (NV) 139 460 307 133 176 Dakota College at Bottineau (ND) 370 83 414 171 177 North Shore Community College (MA) 524 116 287 197

178 South Texas College

(TX) 396 227 352 128

179 Pasadena City College

(CA) 34 280 391 442 180 Oregon Coast Community College (OR) 228 18 519 604

181 ASA College (NY) 661 37 377 42

182 Cleveland State Community College (TN) 211 207 454 228 183 Manhattan Area Technical College (KS) 620 435 80 37 184 Wayne Community College (NC) 269 345 205 252 Hutchinson

185 Community College (KS) 367 516 138 80 186 Carteret Community College (NC) 229 90 151 559 187 Northeast Iowa Community College (IA) 328 274 184 313 188 Kankakee Community College (IL) 548 313 42 255 189 Cumberland County_{College (NJ)} 395 202 364 166 190 Polk State College (FL) 375 550 216 31

191 Pueblo Community College (CO) 461 78 335 287 192 Chandler-Gilbert Community College (AZ) 88 475 258 212 193 Minnesota West -Granite Falls (MN) 426 521 20 183 194 Carl Sandburg College

(IL) 333 187 140 461

195 Edmonds Community

College (WA) 398 349 30 392 196 City College of San

Francisco (CA) 38 239 215 583 197 Jones County Junior_{College (MS)} 278 136 346 386

198

Big Sandy Community and Technical College

(KY)

201 94 257 655

199 Grossmont College

(CA) 85 612 369 61

200 College (GA) 235 336 642 43

201 Indian River State

College (FL) 179 643 66 100 202 Pellissippi State Community College (TN) 299 95 503 289 203 College of the Ouachitas (AR) 187 346 213 355 204 Northampton Community College (PA) 565 204 240 149

205 Cape Fear Community

College (NC) 412 189 162 401 206 College of the Canyons (CA) 32 523 217 373 207 Forsyth Technical Community College (NC) 262 88 552 286 208 Louisburg College_(NC) 616 8 289 651 209 Naugatuck Valley Community College (CT) 289 251 367 263

210 UH Maui College (HI) 201 17 604 631

211

Truckee Meadows Community College

(NV)

204 396 166 345

212 Merced College (CA) 8 476 437 363 213 Carroll Community

College (MD) 554 395 82 147 214 Moreno Valley College

215 Barstow Community College (CA)

41 415 666 26

216 Inver Hills Community_{College (MN)} 623 154 345 101 217 Germanna Community College (VA) 641 525 105 23 218 South Arkansas Community College (AR) 183 76 469 584 219 Fulton-Montgomery Community College (NY) 258 290 433 201 220 Caldwell Community College and Technical

Institute (NC)

248 279 338 303

221 Olive - Harvey College

(IL) 622 39 440 1

222 Ventura College (CA) 81 627 224 140 223 Brazosport College (TX) 73 411 143 514 224 Quinebaug Valley Community College (CT) 313 148 273 446 225 Southern State Community College (OH) 303 231 371 305 226 Central Wyoming College (WY) 25 151 452 574 227 Nebraska Indian Community College (NE) 245 21 670 1 228 University of New Mexico - Valencia Campus (NM) 123 106 632 125

229 Garrett College (MD) 333 58 408 562 230 Orange Coast College_(CA) 35 668 182 129

231

Hagerstown Community College

(MD)

507 420 79 199

232 Fort Scott Community_{College (KS)} 350 528 146 125

233 Northwestern Connecticut Community College (CT) 252 266 456 38 234 Hinds Community College (MS) 161 54 532 490 235 Bay College (MI) 418 49 394 432 236 Gulf Coast State

College (FL) 221 562 175 130 237

Kansas City Kansas Community College (KS) 114 350 282 426 238 Robeson Community College (NC) 113 31 654 400 239 Mid-Plains Community College (NE) 97 593 97 334 240 University of Arkansas Community College at Morrilton (AR) 269 280 305 270

241 Kauai Community_{College (HI)} 191 110 455 567 242 Bellevue College (WA) 478 566 171 34 243

Dyersburg State Community College

(TN)

244 Golden West College

(CA) 33 657 149 250

245 Norco College (CA) 12 645 236 181 246 LaGuardia Community College (NY) 448 157 485 173 247 Southwestern Community College (IA) 493 165 120 570 248 Atlanta Metropolitan

State College (GA) 425 22 501 445 249 Halifax Community College (NC) 205 9 526 578 250 College of Lake County (IL) 561 365 36 312 251 Lawson State Community College (AL) 438 14 574 377 252 Herkimer County Community College (NY) 384 398 195 231 253 Central Georgia Technical College -Macon (GA) 295 401 325 1 254 Northland Community and Technical College

(MN)

458 549 55 150

255 West Georgia

Technical College (GA) 300 315 457 1 256 Williamsburg Technical

College (SC) 359 46 640 1 257 Windward Community

College (HI) 212 68 554 522 258 San Jose City College

259 American River College (CA) 49 640 91 381 260 Eastern Wyoming College (WY) 46 452 234 480 261 Trinity Valley Community College (TX) 469 506 113 132

262 Lake Superior College

(MN) 579 518 130 59

263 Foothill College (CA) 105 403 218 473 264 Southern Crescent

Technical College (GA) 485 102 525 240

265 Rowan-Cabarrus Community College (NC) 241 300 569 153 266 Anoka Technical College (MN) 480 269 295 237 267 Cuyamaca College (CA) 62 500 395 275

268 State Fair Community

College (MO) 318 325 357 262 269 Ocean County College_(NJ) 518 608 99 53

270 SOWELA Technical Community College (LA) 500 487 95 162 271 River Valley Community College (NH) 604 268 88 136

272 Canada College (CA) 100 432 434 112 273 Wharton County Junior

College (TX) 337 579 337 47 274 Antelope Valley 5 471 303 547

College (CA) 275 Laramie County Community College (WY) 69 558 334 270

276 Pasco-Hernando State_{College (FL)} 323 641 60 109

277

Gateway Community and Technical College

(KY) 238 358 63 549 278 College of The Albemarle (NC) 222 216 472 368 279 Midland College (TX) 329 245 407 349 280 Sacramento City College (CA) 42 535 383 342 281 Madison Area

Technical College (WI) 109 359 204 525

282 Baltimore City Community College (MD) 119 13 653 529 283 Santa Fe College (FL) 182 470 26 602 284

Southern West Virginia Community and Technical College (WV) 108 23 661 480 285 Ellsworth Community College (IA) 242 131 415 611 286 Raritan Valley Community College (NJ) 528 537 239 45

287 Hartnell College (CA) 19 442 330 649 288 Lamar Institute of_{Technology (TX)} 199 194 558 342

289 Community College (NC) 115 402 450 316 290 Hudson Valley Community College (NY) 274 426 297 269 291 Highlands College (MT) 91 262 601 176

292 Middlesex Community_{College (CT)} 372 208 470 96 293 Williston State College

(ND) 187 424 231 392 294 Nash Community College (NC) 359 122 587 297 295 Central Virginia Community College (VA) 483 636 177 36 296

New Mexico State University, Carlsbad

(NM)

27 83 665 532

297 Aiken Technical

College (SC) 312 283 442 291 298 New Mexico Junior

College (NM) 26 422 311 657 299 Cuesta College (CA) 64 555 264 378

300 Iowa Lakes Community College (IA) 566 368 67 308 301 College of the Siskiyous (CA) 14 350 482 652 302 Montgomery College (MD) 609 79 405 93 303 Neosho County Community College (KS) 536 589 109 88

304 Elgin Community

College (IL) 491 371 11 521 305 Clover Park Technical

College (WA) 621 158 57 506 306 Butler County Community College (PA) 347 427 251 265 307 Northern Virginia Community College (VA) 594 491 208 62 308 Laredo Community College (TX) 567 85 279 439 309 Hawaii Community College (HI) 249 86 496 617 310 Black River Technical

College (AR) 224 140 390 650 311 Northern Oklahoma

College (OK) 177 601 297 155 312 Cedar Valley College

(TX) 215 162 576 365

313

Maysville Community & Technical College

(KY) 349 188 196 660 314 Hibbing Community College (MN) 280 304 98 564 315 Texarkana College (TX) 237 559 466 82 316 Mohawk Valley Community College (NY) 363 400 393 192 317 Eastern Maine Community College (ME) 461 431 252 190

318 New Mexico State University Alamogordo (NM) 99 129 631 532 319 Donnelly College (KS) 657 1 656 56 320 Central Maine Community College (ME) 584 515 250 46

321 Long Beach City

College (CA) 55 236 317 609 T-322 Roxbury Community

College (MA) 324 212 495 361 T-322 Del Mar College (TX) 152 243 557 408

324 Cincinnati State Technical and Community College (OH) 378 123 573 315 325 Ashland Community and Technical College

(KY) 239 234 275 648 326 Jackson State Community College (TN) 148 451 648 51

327 Harper College (IL) 532 373 53 451 328 Mission College (CA) 71 504 284 459 329 Spokane Community

College (WA) 175 348 222 639 330 College of Central

Florida (FL) 226 600 62 324 331 Butler Community_{College (KS)} 391 529 293 130 332 San Juan College (NM) 87 121 612 519 333

Northern Essex

(MA)

334 College of the Desert_(CA) 2 479 348 586

335

Potomac State College of West Virginia University (WV) 174 286 596 69 336 Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College (NC) 347 391 279 348 337 Southeast Community College (NE) 335 613 132 220 338 Folsom Lake College

(CA) 80 575 199 516 339 Wor-Wic Community College (MD) 559 35 420 496 340 Iowa Central Community College (IA) 509 511 127 226 341 Pitt Community College (NC) 225 379 514 260 342 Clinton Community College (NY) 280 617 202 195 343 Spoon River College

(IL) 516 446 40 428 344 Richland College (TX) 287 503 380 211 345 Westchester Community College (NY) 249 366 493 93 346 Sullivan County Community College (NY) 268 82 515 541 347 Spokane Falls Community College 70 290 360 591

(WA) 348 Southeast Arkansas College (AR) 286 159 403 631 349 Massachusetts Bay Community College (MA) 544 343 385 180

350 Lake Region State

College (ND) 227 625 108 342 351 Columbia State Community College (TN) 332 564 370 122 352 Umpqua Community College (OR) 200 120 478 666 T-353 Community College of

Beaver County (PA) 464 477 299 144 T-353 Texas State Technical

College Marshall (TX) 479 183 381 428 355 Evergreen Valley College (CA) 44 576 342 437 356 Victoria College (TX) 157 344 565 325 357 Henderson Community College (KY) 128 501 224 479 358 Wayne County Community College District (MI) 167 261 507 546 359 Bakersfield College (CA) 20 376 410 596 360 Brookdale Community College (NJ) 627 377 227 168 361 Somerset Community College (KY) 287 303 185 663 362 Lamar State College

T-363 Mesa Community

College (AZ) 196 648 315 117 T-363 Lone Star College (TX) 424 260 531 242

365

Lorain County Community College

(OH)

272 577 210 302

366 Rend Lake College (IL) 535 650 19 194 367 Rainy River Community

College (MN) 429 222 200 628 368 Springfield Technical Community College (MA) 484 255 313 408

369 Bainbridge State_{College (GA)} 184 91 445 601

370 Columbia Gorge Community College (OR) 233 439 327 317 371 Salish Kootenai College (MT) 653 3 530 642 372 West Hills College

Lemoore (CA) 18 598 402 534 373 West Shore Community College (MI) 218 436 201 511 374

Richard Bland College of The College of William and Mary (VA)

307 485 221 270

375 Amarillo College (TX) 118 497 421 361 376 Weatherford College

(TX) 466 586 481 28

377 Morton College (IL) 575 390 333 160 378 Essex County College

379 Seminole State

College (OK) 485 185 198 645 380 _{Junior College (TX)}Southwest Texas 368 233 278 536

381 Illinois Valley Community College (IL) 603 473 112 245 382 Northwestern

Michigan College (MI) 341 445 139 440 383 Central Ohio Technical_{College (OH)} 549 213 499 244

T-384 MN State College -Southeast Technical (MN) 472 512 154 294 T-384 Piedmont Technical College (SC) 492 67 415 537 386 St. Johns River State

College (FL) 307 606 72 118 387 Houston Community College (TX) 306 246 571 336 388 National Park Community College (AR) 275 302 505 382

389 Cape Cod Community

College (MA) 410 410 488 175 390 Santa Fe Community College (NM) 54 228 578 553 391 Capital Community College (CT) 321 168 550 452 392 SUNY Rockland Community College (NY) 275 649 163 241 393 Greenfield Community 322 322 183 557

College (MA) 394 Tillamook Bay Community College (OR) 435 335 310 317 395 NHTI - Concord's Community College (NH) 650 203 274 75 396 Kirkwood Community College (IA) 550 189 376 423 397 Middle Georgia

Technical College (GA) 195 375 461 433 398 Hennepin Technical

College (MN) 499 539 83 350 399 College of the

Mainland (TX) 110 337 277 598 400 Hawkeye Community_{College (IA)} 572 534 23 354

401

Pine Technical and Community College (MN) 110 393 379 630 402 Nunez Community College (LA) 523 172 636 187 403 North Hennepin Community College (MN) 570 513 375 81 404 Dakota County Technical College (MN) 446 633 45 320 405 Treasure Valley Community College (OR) 357 154 426 543 406 Angelina College (TX) 391 463 660 30 Tompkins Cortland

407 Community College (NY) 384 273 360 489 408 Marion Military Institute (AL) 468 132 432 589 409 Clatsop Community College (OR) 206 168 464 577 410 Elizabethtown Community & Technical College (KY)

361 547 191 358

411 South Central College

(MN) 416 543 107 346 412 Kennedy - King College (IL) 598 55 535 355 413 McLennan Community College (TX) 95 408 400 542 414 Metropolitan Community College (NE) 230 228 582 448 415 Rochester Community and Technical College

(MN)

530 514 254 188

416

Western Iowa Tech Community College

(IA)

222 585 289 325

417 County College of

Morris (NJ) 642 605 142 73 418 Tidewater Community_{College (VA)} 497 315 478 266

419 College of Southern_{Maryland (MD)} 574 587 271 84 420 Century College (MN) 605 404 347 171 421 York County Community College (ME) 455 406 295 366

422 Mt. San Jacinto_{College (CA)} 45 615 188 653

423 Technical College of_{the Lowcountry (SC)} 551 177 545 77 424 Quincy College (MA) 659 443 474 32

425

Manchester Community College

(CT)

390 457 350 77

426 Central Lakes College

(MN) 519 453 207 329 427 McHenry County College (IL) 553 624 58 247 428 Front Range Community College (CO) 511 362 409 288

429 Paris Junior College_(TX) 167 573 351 373

430 Los Angeles Southwest College (CA) 43 105 606 620 431 Leeward Community College (HI) 421 164 528 465 432 Diablo Valley College

(CA) 107 604 211 502

433

West Virginia Northern Community College (WV) 260 468 510 279 434 College of Alameda (CA) 135 364 499 524 435 Wake Technical Community College (NC) 398 467 233 425 436 Riverland Community 406 548 53 518

College (MN) 437 Horry-Georgetown

Technical College (SC) 494 508 262 261 438 Lake Land College (IL) 645 602 9 309

439 Cerro Coso Community College (CA) 7 563 590 522 440 Orange County Community College (NY) 219 505 462 332 441 Mount Wachusett Community College (MA) 431 276 357 503 442 Pima Community College (AZ) 127 623 465 258 443 Cleveland Community_{College (NC)} 210 516 384 405 444 Danville Community College (VA) 532 331 276 444 445 Florida SouthWestern State College (FL) 435 480 125 339 446 State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota (FL) 355 429 179 569 447 Middlesex County College (NJ) 502 466 487 133 448 Northeastern Technical College (SC) 453 319 568 1 449 Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology (OK) 562 441 323 248 450 Flathead Valley Community College 382 434 287 447

(MT) 451

Redlands Community

College (OK) 314 545 415 281

452 Rock Valley College

(IL) 554 596 76 322

453 Hocking College (OH) 381 312 449 459

454

Southwest Tennessee Community College

(TN)

363 153 657 314

455 Baker College of Port

Huron (MI) 630 52 616 411 456 Mountain View

College (TX) 301 506 549 212 457 North Central State_{College (OH)} 285 386 551 366 458 Dutchess Community

College - SUNY (NY) 192 639 284 333

459

Sussex County Community College

(NJ)

600 622 155 142

460 Prairie State College

(IL) 578 178 548 346

461 Baker College of

Owosso (MI) 606 206 457 411 462 Rogue Community_{College (OR)} 254 267 517 538

463 Corning Community_{College (NY)} 380 294 468 472 464 Honolulu Community

College (HI) 230 417 543 389 465 Howard Community

466 Quinsigamond Community College

(MA)

525 287 536 294

467

Texas State Technical College West Texas

(TX) 376 224 321 586 468 Clarendon College (TX) 330 199 475 639 469 Cayuga Community College (NY) 94 481 362 555 470 Jefferson Community and Technical College

(KY)

354 135 555 625

471 Tunxis Community

College (CT) 310 369 512 434 472 Laney College (CA) 90 597 561 300 473 Central Arizona

College (AZ) 79 356 570 545 474 _{University Tech (AR)}Southern Arkansas 408 498 65 643

475 West Virginia University at Parkersburg (WV) 181 284 498 659 476 Gloucester County College (NJ) 631 546 300 114 477 Northwest Vista College (TX) 638 394 356 217 478 College of Marin (CA) 36 477 388 600

479

Bluegrass Community and Technical College

(KY)

470 383 398 392

481 Highland Community College (IL) 217 619 91 621 482 Minneapolis Community and Technical College (MN) 583 99 508 488 483 Passaic County Community College (NJ) 573 127 571 398 484 Owensboro Community and Technical College (KY)

339 493 133 629

485

Eastern West Virginia Community & Technical College (WV) 170 313 520 631 486 Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College (KY)

401 425 128 662 487 National American University-Brooklyn Center (MN) 670 11 637 570

488 Truman College (IL) 647 125 595 1

489

Prince George's Community College

(MD)

612 41 581 477

490 _{Michigan College (MI)}Southwestern 421 249 373 556 491 De Anza College (CA) 162 628 228 485 492 Greenville Technical

College (SC) 463 252 577 371 493 College of Southern_{Idaho (ID)} 316 591 429 266

494 Community College (IL)

414 642 85 426

T-495 Gateway Community

College (CT) 307 413 586 63 T-495 Bergen Community_{College (NJ)} 646 447 319 186

497 Merritt College (CA) 47 539 658 281 498 Oakton Community College (IL) 536 380 267 463 499 Piedmont Virginia Community College (VA) 591 584 231 199 500 Independence Community College (KS) 273 519 294 543

501 Tyler Junior College

(TX) 507 499 471 188 502 Lakes Region Community College (NH) 611 482 100 234 503 Tulsa Community College (OK) 141 550 436 483 504 Central Alabama Community College (AL) 163 270 579 631

505 Marion Technical_{College (OH)} 585 181 625 307

506 Western Colorado Community College (CO) 626 396 203 294 507 Norwalk Community College (CT) 439 423 497 68 508 Waubonsee Community College 597 614 74 340

(IL) 509 Housatonic Community College (CT) 543 211 508 456 510 Burlington County College (NJ) 628 667 266 29 511 York Technical College (SC) 432 137 624 438 512 Southwestern Oregon Community College (OR) 405 495 314 317

513 Kaskaskia College (IL) 625 582 118 292

514 Reading Area Community College (PA) 460 57 522 596 515 Cecil College (MD) 541 198 521 457 516 Mesabi Range College

(MN) 430 533 173 494 517 St. Philips College (TX) 443 238 603 401 518 Anoka-Ramsey Community College (MN) 613 620 372 74 519 Northwest State Community College (OH) 423 419 340 495 520 Fletcher Technical Community College (LA) 427 526 462 1

521 Mott Community_{College (MI)} 325 653 428 178 522 Coastal Bend College

(TX) 576 354 246 485

523 College (UT) 546 588 480 102

524

Southeastern Community College

(IA) 280 449 336 615

525 _{Compton Center (CA)}El Camino College 82 322 598 579 526 Ulster Community

College - SUNY (NY) 402 462 281 510 527 University of Cincinnati

Clermont College (OH) 563 405 439 64 528 Palo Alto College (TX) 525 465 353 376

529 Volunteer State Community College (TN) 337 557 575 205 530 Bristol Community College (MA) 505 565 405 239 531 Tarrant County College District (TX) 76 520 564 504 532 Schoolcraft College (MI) 588 629 208 221

533 Cosumnes River_{College (CA)} 50 634 354 549 534 Klamath Community College (OR) 351 56 600 607 535 Northeast Texas Community College (TX) 473 430 249 589 536 University of Wisconsin Colleges (WI) 560 492 328 67 537 Three Rivers Community College 343 536 460 136

(CT)

538 Texas State Technical

College Harlingen (TX) 138 310 589 575 539 Central Oregon Community College (OR) 596 305 437 430 540 Delaware County Community College (PA) 590 527 404 216 541 Howard College (TX) 366 299 445 635 542 Clovis Community College (CA) 84 662 167 637 543 Martin Community College (NC) 121 353 626 548 544 Seminole State College of Florida (FL) 452 618 33 448 545 Brookhaven College (TX) 296 490 538 190

546 Clackamas Community_{College (OR)} 208 594 382 480

547

Lehigh Carbon Community College

(PA)

656 298 447 336

548 North Central Texas

College (TX) 220 655 594 118 549 Baker College of Muskegon (MI) 658 113 608 411 550 Suffolk County Community College (NY) 292 663 411 250 551 Nashville State Community College (TN) 455 317 639 309

552 Reedley College (CA) 16 583 424 616 553 _{Technical College (SC)}Central Carolina 577 48 593 561

554

Guilford Technical Community College

(NC)

371 141 617 557

555 Parkland College (IL) 525 354 238 576 556 Florence-Darlington

Technical College (SC) 319 220 623 595

557

Pierpont Community and Technical College

(WV)

297 146 620 667

558 North Central Michigan_{College (MI)} 368 502 537 358 559 Triton College (IL) 644 544 425 139 560 Motlow State Community College (TN) 353 659 427 225 561 Heartland Community College (IL) 503 450 368 467 562 Thomas Nelson Community College (VA) 540 651 441 105 563 Normandale Community College (MN) 632 566 260 275 564 Baker College of Jackson (MI) 664 65 634 411 565 Navarro College (TX) 435 621 489 202 566 Missouri State University-West Plains (MO) 510 101 611 610 567 Eastfield College (TX) 372 572 532 298

568 Massasoit Community_{College (MA)} 513 483 491 328

569 University of Cincinnati

Blue Ash College (OH) 634 360 473 64 570 Union County College

(NJ) 589 282 621 306 571 Glendale Community College (AZ) 265 603 373 457 572 Eastern Iowa Community Colleges (IA) 521 532 176 562

573 Rhodes State College

(OH) 586 384 312 540

574 Frank Phillips College

(TX) 433 184 556 657 575 Adirondack Community College (NY) 340 595 588 235

576 Blue Ridge Community_{College (VA)} 618 574 102 383

577 South Georgia State_{College (GA)} 488 235 583 594 578 Vincennes University (IN) 397 581 486 331 579 Spartanburg Community College (SC) 470 214 613 497 580 Virginia Western Community College (VA) 514 647 392 207 581 Community College of Philadelphia (PA) 662 42 580 513 Northeast State

582 Community College (TN)

302 457 430 617

583 Fresno City College_(CA) 21 570 523 613

584 East Georgia State

College (GA) 614 50 651 599 585 Lane Community

College (OR) 169 342 553 606 586 Baker College of

Clinton Township (MI) 660 66 655 411

587 Moraine Valley Community College (IL) 663 529 153 60 588 Kingsborough Community College (NY) 451 554 316 411 589 Chemeketa Community College (OR) 407 378 558 493 590 Onondaga Community College (NY) 326 488 534 469 591 Barton Community College (KS) 476 646 150 469 592 Macomb Community College (MI) 514 669 283 195 593 Saint Paul College

(MN) 643 256 395 531 594 Richard J. Daley College (IL) 635 209 628 39 595 Midlands Technical College (SC) 388 524 584 322 596 Muskegon Community College (MI) 538 631 322 311

597 Henry Ford College (MI) 455 440 541 436 598 Anne Arundel Community College (MD) 649 474 256 424 599 Southeastern Community College (NC) 101 409 622 668 600 Edison Community College (OH) 629 347 387 560 601 Georgia Perimeter College (GA) 495 352 605 442 602 Clark State Community

College (OH) 489 417 644 279 603 Baker College of Cadillac (MI) 666 108 626 411 604 Linn-Benton Community College (OR) 278 568 477 528 605 Baker College of

Auburn Hills (MI) 655 132 649 411 606 Nassau Community College (NY) 449 654 341 363 607 Chattanooga State Community College (TN) 262 427 607 539 608 Ozarks Technical Community College (MO) 512 664 219 403

609 East Central College

(MO) 255 634 483 471

610 Nashua Community

College (NH) 654 461 339 125 Bishop State

611 Community College (AL) 410 341 668 330 612 Marshalltown Community College (IA) 209 644 476 501 613 Community College of Vermont (VT) 637 333 513 511 614 Arapahoe Community College (CO) 547 638 542 185 615 San Antonio College_(TX) 580 486 584 293

616 Monroe County Community College (MI) 445 556 492 270 617 Harrisburg Area Community College -Harrisburg Campus (PA) 498 305 619 515 618

Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College

(MN)

542 421 419 604

619

Mountwest Community and Technical College

(WV) 346 201 645 665 620 Iowa Western Community College (IA) 633 369 529 454 621 River Parishes Community College (LA) 521 665 560 133 622 Manchester Community College (NH) 639 509 423 103

623 and Technical College (WV)

388 331 599 644

624 College of DuPage (IL) 615 626 320 390

625

National American University-Sioux Falls

(SD)

669 262 511 570

626 Baker College of Flint

(MI) 582 224 664 411

627 Community College of_{Baltimore County (MD)} 617 321 646 392 628 Lakeland Community College (OH) 441 522 566 483 629 Blue Mountain Community College (OR) 393 495 467 588 630 Bossier Parish Community College (LA) 539 493 633 335 631 Tri-County Technical College (SC) 534 385 518 580 632 John Tyler Community

College (VA) 599 652 547 184 633 Hudson County Community College (NJ) 665 118 647 462 634 Lansing Community College (MI) 551 552 331 564 635 Temple College (TX) 240 438 643 612 636 Community College of

Allegheny County (PA) 648 609 506 249 637 Great Bay Community

College (NH) 619 469 591 69 Bucks County

638 Community College (PA)

650 577 422 392

639 Joliet Junior College_(IL) 593 611 459 411

640 Baker College of Allen

Park (MI) 667 69 669 411 T-641 Pikes Peak Community

College (CO) 474 472 602 526 T-641 Schenectady County Community College (NY) 386 637 615 369

643 _{Wayne College (OH)}University of Akron 464 538 630 148

644 Southern Maine Community College (ME) 601 630 544 327 645 Enterprise State Community College (AL) 404 483 563 626 646 Louisiana Delta Community College (LA) 531 275 641 622 647 Cuyahoga Community College - Metropolitan (OH) 267 510 617 592

648 Stark State College

(OH) 314 328 663 656 649 Montgomery County Community College (PA) 652 590 388 236 650 Kalamazoo Valley Community College (MI) 504 661 399 500 National American

651 University-Zona Rosa (MO)

668 222 592 570

652 Berkeley City College_(CA) 144 670 610 499

653 Columbus State Community College (OH) 545 632 484 497 654 Northshore Technical Community College (LA) 529 607 344 622 655 Harold Washington College (IL) 635 382 614 527 656 Highland Community College (KS) 490 658 260 627 657 Three Rivers College

(MO) 608 571 443 581 658 South Louisiana Community College (LA) 607 414 567 622 659

New River Community and Technical College

(WV) 320 388 662 670 660 Ranger College (TX) 568 561 596 355 661 Grand Rapids Community College (MI) 485 599 490 635 662 Metropolitan Community College (MO) 587 616 527 468

663 Connors State College_(OK) 476 541 638 593 664 Wilbur Wright College

665 Austin Community College (TX) 569 592 609 566 666 Blinn College (TX) 474 656 650 520 667 Baton Rouge Community College (LA) 505 407 667 603 668 Calhoun Community College (AL) 610 666 516 614 669 College of Western Idaho (ID) 624 553 652 617 670 Terra State Community

Ask the Experts

With the cost of higher education in the U.S. continuing to soar and more Americans seeking

degrees these days, community colleges are filling the demand that traditional four-year institutions are failing to meet. But they face new challenges as a result. For further insight into such concerns, we asked a panel of leading experts to weigh in with their thoughts. Click on the experts’ profiles below to read their bios and responses to the following key questions:

1. Do you think President Barack Obama’s proposal to make community-college tuition free will increase enrollment and graduation rates?

2. What can policymakers do to improve the quality of education and training at community colleges and the career prospects of graduates?

3. Should community colleges focus more on preparing graduates for the workforce through career and technical education or on preparing graduates to move to a four-year college?

Peter M. Summers

Assistant Professor of

Economics, Phillips School of Business, High Point

University

Lauren Schudde

Assistant Professor, Program in Higher Education

Leadership, Department of Educational Administration, The University of Texas at Austin

Jim Riggs

Professor, Advanced Studies in Education, College of Education, California State University Stanislaus

Back to All Experts

college tuition free will increase enrollment and graduation

I expect that enrolment would increase with an elimination of tuition, provided that entrance requirements are not raised. However, it is useful to keep in mind that one of the large costs of going to college—especially for students from low-school. It is sometimes (often) this loss of earnings, rather

Peter M. Summers

Assistant Professor of Economics, Phillips School of Business, High Point University

Methodology

In order to identify the best and worst community colleges in the U.S., WalletHub compared 670 such institutions across four key dimensions, including: 1) Cost & Financing, 2) Classroom

Experience, 3) Education Outcomes and 4) Career Outcomes. Due to data limitations, we were not able to include all of the more than 1,100 member colleges of the American Association of

Community Colleges. We then compiled 17 relevant metrics, which are listed below with their corresponding weights.

Our analysis draws in part on the results of the annual Community College Survey of Student Engagement (CCSSE) conducted by the University of Texas at Austin. Please note that because most community colleges do not administer the survey to their students every year and results don’t change drastically from one year to the next, we combined results from the three most recently available years spanning 2013 through 2015 for each school that participated consistently. For

Subha Mani

Associate Professor, Department of Economics, Fordham University

Mark Holmgren

Assistant Professor, Eastern Washington University

Lonnie K. Stevans

Associate Professor, Hofstra University

Omari Swinton

Associate Professor of the Department of Economics at Howard University

Arthur MacEwan

Professor of Economics at the University of Massachusetts Boston Darnell Cole Research Scholar in Residence, CTS/TP, Singapore, Associate Professor, Pullias Center for Higher Education, Rossier School of Education, University of Southern California

The cost reduction may make it easier for students to stay in school and graduate. Cost is certainly an important factor leading students to drop out. However, cost is not the only factor. Students also drop out because they do not receive the academic support they need. colleges do not have the funds with which they could provide that support. It is possible that the elimination of tuition would not be accompanied by an increase of funds for support services—which are provided by counselling but also by the contact students have with

What can policymakers do to improve the quality of education and training at community

To a large extent, improvement in the quality of education at community colleges is a matter of funding. Our systems of higher education seem to be based on the principle that the lower the income of the students the less money is spent by the system on their education. So the state expenditure per student tends to be lowest in community colleges and highest in state universities. In terms of payoff, however, it should probably be the other way around—i.e., we

reliance on adjunct faculty. In Massachusetts, for example, I believe that some 70% (or more) of classes at community colleges are taught by adjunct faculty. Adjuncts are not inherently teaching at more than one college) to make ends meet. As a result they are not able to give the students the attention that they need. Moreover, such a heavy reliance on adjuncts with low salaries is demoralizing to the faculty in general, and undermines the quality of the whole excessive reliance on adjunct faculty. In the state universities and in private universities, ones that are often characterized as “elite universities,” there is often a heavy reliance on

through career and technical education - or on preparing graduates to move to a 4-year

I think it is a mistake to think that we should either prepare community college students for the workforce or for moving on to 4-year colleges. If we are going to prepare students for

students who are currently enrolled.

On the other hand (I am an economist, after all!), it could be that free programs will attract students who are less well-prepared or less motivated than current students (“I wasn’t really planning to go to college, but why not give it a shot?”). In that case, graduation rates could fall as more of the additional students decide that they’re better suited to an alternative career.

Should community colleges focus more on preparing graduates for the workforce -through career and technical education - or on preparing graduates to move to a 4-year college?

Well, it depends. There’s evidence that the U.S. faces a shortage of skilled tradespeople, which will only get worse as many currently employed in these areas retire. There’s also evidence that jobs growth is becoming increasingly concentrated in both "low-skilled" and "high-skilled" areas, and especially in jobs that can’t be easily automated or "algorithmed" (ie, done by a computer program). Technical occupations such as plumbers and electricians are included among the high-skilled jobs. So there should be increasing demand for graduates of these programs over the coming years.

At the same time, the importance of a 4-year college degree for employment in many areas will also remain strong. At the end of the day, colleges will have to decide how best to accommodate both demands.

colleges that participated in the survey more than once in each of the three years, we used the most recent results.

Cost & Financing – Total Weight: 5

Cost of In-State Tuition & Fees: Double Weight

Total Amount of State & Local Aid Divided by Total Amount of Federal Aid (Grants): Full Weight

Cost per Student (measures per-pupil spending by the school): Full Weight

School Spending Efficiency (cost per student divided by cost of in-state tuition & fees): Full Weight

Faculty Staff Salary Adjusted by Cost of Living: Full Weight

Classroom Experience – Total Weight: 5

Active & Collaborative Learning (measures students’ level of involvement in their own education and participation in team activities/projects): Full Weight

Student Effort (measures students’ initiative to apply themselves to the learning process): Full Weight

Academic Challenge (measures the complexity of courses and amount of work involved): Full Weight

Student-Faculty Interaction (measures the strength of communication and personal relationships between instructors and their students): Full Weight

Support for Learners (measures the availability and effectiveness of school-provided support services for students’ academic success): Full Weight

Student-to-Faculty Ratio: Full Weight

Education Outcomes – Total Weight: 5

First-Year Retention Rate: Full Weight Graduation Rate: Full Weight

Transfer-Out Rate: Half Weight

Credentials (degrees and certificates) Awarded per 100 Full-Time-Equivalent Students: Full Weight

Career Outcomes – Total Weight: 5

Return on Educational Investment (ratio of starting salary for graduates to cost of education): Double Weight

Student-Loan Default Rate: Full Weight good jobs, for real careers, and a lifetime of good employment, as opposed to particular,

narrowly defined jobs, we need to provide them with largely the same education that would prepare them for 4-year colleges. In an economy where the nature of jobs changes fairly rapidly, focusing just on the particular skills needed at the moment will be insufficient. To expands their creativity, their ability to express themselves, their capacity to write clearly, and their ability to understand basic mathematics. Most importantly, the students need to learn