Ranking the Best Community Colleges in America

Cost is often a major consideration when choosing a college. Community colleges offer students the ability to get higher education without having as much financial strain. Individual community colleges, however, vary in quality and affordability. To determine where students can receive the best education at the lowest price, it's essential to evaluate various factors.

The Value of Community Colleges

Community colleges have a number of attractive qualities. They often provide more flexible schedules, smaller class sizes and rigorous coursework. Some even go beyond two-year programs to offer four-year bachelor’s degrees.

Affordability

During the 2024 to 2025 academic year, tuition and fees for full-time, in-state enrollment at a public two-year college averaged $4,050 per year versus $11,610 at a public four-year institution and $43,350 at a four-year private school. Community college can be the pathway to creating more lifelong income, with associate’s degree holders earning 14% more - or $6,496 more per year - than those with a high school education. But while tuition and fees tend to be less expensive for community colleges than four-year degrees, it still costs a median $5,040 per year to complete two semesters of coursework, and in many cases can cost upwards of $10,000 per year.

Open Admissions

Most community colleges, including Long Beach City College and Kingsborough Community College, have open admissions policies, meaning anyone with a high school diploma or equivalent can enroll. CSM has an open admissions policy, it welcomes students from all backgrounds, making higher education more accessible. Kingsborough has an open admissions policy, welcoming students from all backgrounds, making college accessible and affordable.

Transfer Opportunities

Colleges like Santa Rosa Junior College and College of San Mateo have strong transfer agreements with schools like the University of California (UC) and California State University (CSU) systems.

Evaluating Community Colleges

To determine where students can receive the best education at the lowest price, WalletHub compared more than 650 community colleges across 18 key indicators of cost and quality. WalletHub evaluated the schools based on three key dimensions, including: 1) Cost & Financing, 2) Education Outcomes and 3) Career Outcomes.

Key Metrics for Evaluation

The study looked at 77 specific two-year institutions across the state and found that, by WalletHub’s metrics, the best community college in California is right here in SoCal: Irvine Valley College, which scored 67.48 out of 100.

The three dimensions were constructed using 18 total metrics, each grouped with related metrics in the appropriate category and listed below with its corresponding weight.

Cost & Financing

Cost is a primary concern for many students. Key factors include:

Cost of In-State Tuition & Fees: This is a critical factor, with some colleges offering significantly lower rates. For example, Tohono O'odham Community College (AZ) has one of the lowest tuition rates, while others like Triton College (IL) have the highest.
Per-Pupil Spending: Higher spending per student can indicate better resources and support. Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute (NM) and Leech Lake Tribal College (MN) are among the highest in this category.
Student-Loan Default Rate: A lower default rate suggests better financial outcomes for graduates. Minnesota North College (MN) and Moorpark College (CA) have some of the lowest default rates.

Education Outcomes

The quality of education is paramount. Important metrics include:

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Graduation Rate: This reflects the success of students in completing their programs. State Technical College of Missouri (MO) has the highest graduation rate.
Student-Faculty Ratio: A lower ratio often means more personalized attention. Pamlico Community College (NC) has one of the lowest student-faculty ratios.
Retention rate

Career Outcomes

A college's ability to prepare students for successful careers is crucial. Key indicators include:

Employment Services: Colleges that offer employment services help students find jobs after graduation.
Salary After Attending: Higher median salaries for graduates indicate better career prospects.

Standout Community Colleges

Several community colleges across the United States stand out for their commitment to quality education, affordability, and student success.

Irvine Valley College (CA)

Irvine Valley College in Southern California scored 67.48 out of 100, according to WalletHub’s metrics. Following Irvine Valley College is College of San Mateo (66.9/100); Moreno Valley College (66.48); De Anza College (66.4) and Saddleback College (66.36).

Brookdale Community College (NJ)

Brookdale Community College has been ranked as the #1 community college in New Jersey for 2025, according to Niche, the leading platform for connecting students and families with schools and colleges. According to Niche’s survey results, students at Brookdale describe the typical student as “cooperative and helpful,” “interesting,” and “outgoing,” highlighting the sense of community and collaboration on campus. Brookdale’s consistently high marks across these areas demonstrate the College’s dedication to fostering student success both inside and outside the classroom.

Beaufort County Community College (NC)

Based in Washington, NC, annual tuition and fees for in-state students at Beaufort are particularly low at $2,540. At just eight students per faculty member, students may be able to receive personalized attention in their studies.

Manhattan Area Technical College (KS)

Manhattan Area Technical College in Manhattan, KS, ranks as the second-best community college in 2025, in large part because it puts students on track for good future earnings. Over 77% of former students earn more than the average income of people with only a high school education (between ages 25 and 34). Graduates also have a median salary of nearly $52,000, the 12th-highest among the schools in our study. Over 92% of the college’s instructional and research staff are full-time employees, the third-highest rate in the country. Pratt also offers employment services for students and gives credit for life experiences.

Santa Rosa Junior College (CA)

Founded in 1918, SRJC is one of California’s oldest community colleges. SRJC enrolls approximately 26,000 students and offers a wide range of associate degrees and certificates in areas like health sciences, business administration, and liberal arts. With a student-faculty ratio of 23:1, students receive supportive, personalized instruction. In-state tuition is very affordable! For example: Santa Rosa Junior College: ~$1,324 per year.

City College of San Francisco (CA)

Established in 1935, CCSF offers a wide variety of associate degrees and certificate programs in areas like liberal arts, science, technology, and business. With a student-faculty ratio of 22:1, CCSF provides a balance of personal support and diverse class offerings. The college also offers programs like English as a Second Language (ESL) and non-credit courses for adult learners. In-state tuition is very affordable! For example: City College of San Francisco: ~$1,696 per year.

College of San Mateo (CA)

Founded in 1922, CSM has an open admissions policy, it welcomes students from all backgrounds, making higher education more accessible. CSM serves around 10,000 students and provides a wide range of associate degrees, certificates, and transfer programs. Popular areas of study include business, health sciences, and technology. With a 24:1 student-faculty ratio, students can expect engaging classroom experiences and helpful faculty support.

Alexandria Technical and Community College (MN)

Founded in 1961, the college offers over 50 programs, including associate degrees, diplomas, and certificates. Serving around 2,500 students, the college is particularly strong in fields like law enforcement, nursing, mechatronics, and business management. Thanks to its 20:1 student-faculty ratio, students receive supportive guidance and personalized instruction in small class settings.

Kingsborough Community College (NY)

Founded in 1963, Kingsborough has an open admissions policy, welcoming students from all backgrounds, making college accessible and affordable. Serving approximately 15,000 students, Kingsborough offers a wide range of associate degrees in areas like liberal arts, business, health sciences, and nursing. With a student-faculty ratio of 17:1, students benefit from smaller class sizes and more one-on-one support.

Long Beach City College (LBCC)

Founded in 1927, LBCC offers over 70 associate degrees and 90 certificate programs, covering areas like business, health sciences, technology, and liberal arts. With open admissions, LBCC welcomes a diverse population of approximately 24,000 students. LBCC’s student-faculty ratio of 27:1 helps provide personalized learning opportunities, and the school has strong partnerships with local industries to support career training.

Additional Advice

Financial Aid

Community college students are typically eligible for financial aid, including grants, scholarships and loans.

Online Programs

Online community college programs are a flexible and convenient option.

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