The United States is known worldwide for its educational institutions and several American universities are considered to be the best in the world.
However, for those seeking higher education, university is not the only option. Newsweek has created a map of which states have the best community colleges, according to a recent report from WalletHub.
The study examined over 650 community colleges on 18 cost and quality indicators, using a data set ranging from the cost of tuition and fees in each state to student-to-faculty ratios and graduation rates.
Schools were evaluated in three main areas: costs and funding, educational outcomes and career opportunities. Institutions were scored on a 100-point scale.
According to the report, these were the top ten community colleges in the United States:
- Manhattan Area Technical College, Kansas
- Missouri State Technical College, Missouri
- Pratt Community College, Kansas
- Santa Fe Community College, New Mexico
- Southeast New Mexico College, New Mexico
- Irvine Valley College, California
- Moraine Park Technical College, Wisconsin
- CT State Community College Asnuntuck, Connecticut
- College of San Mateo, California
- Montgomery College, Maryland
The first place went to Manhattan Area Technical College in Kansas, which the study authors say is largely due to the students’ future income prospects. Over 77 percent of former students earn more than the average income of people with only a high school diploma (ages 25 to 34), the report says.
Manhattan Area Technical College had the lowest student loan default rate and the fifth highest graduation rate.
Second place went to the State Technical College of Missouri.
The report stated that 88 percent of students stayed at the school from freshman to sophomore year, making it the second-best state in terms of retention rate. The college also had the best graduation rate in the country – 79 percent.
Pratt Community College, another educational institution in Kansas, took third place.
According to the study, Pratt has the second highest percentage of full-time faculty and researchers at 97 percent. In addition, the university offers generous grants and scholarships of more than $6,700 each.
“A good community college minimizes costs for students while providing an enriching learning experience that leads to high student retention and high graduation rates,” says WalletHub analyst Cassandra Happe.
“The best colleges also support their students after graduation by offering them job placement services to help them find well-paying jobs,” she added.
Newsweek previously created a map of the states with the best universities in America.
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology tops this list, and several universities in California also made it into the top 10.
On the other hand, Newsweek has also created a map of the states with the worst school systems.
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