SmartAsset compared 616 two-year schools that offer associate degrees and have at least 500 full-time enrollees to determine the best community colleges in the U.S.
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Jaclyn DeJohn, CFP
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Associate degrees offer students flexibility to achieve different educational and vocational goals. They usually take half the time of a bachelor's degree and could help you meet the academic requirements for many entry positions into a career. Community colleges that offer associate's degrees are often a more affordable option for students. However, education can still be a hefty cost at any level, so it's important to choose a school and degree program that will help you attain the knowledge and skills needed to advance your career.
With this in mind, SmartAsset compared 616 two-year schools that offer associate degrees—and have at least 500 full-time enrollees—based on their retention rates, student-to-faculty ratio, and tuition and fees to determine the best community colleges in the U.S.
Key Findings
The best community college in the U.S. is located in Wisconsin. Gateway Technical College in Kenosha, WI, claimed the top spot out of 616 schools included in this study. It has a full-time retention rate of 81%, a student-faculty ratio of eight, and $4,766 in tuition and fees for in-state students.
65% of the top 20 community colleges are in North Carolina. North Carolina schools tend to have the best balance of retention, personal attention and affordability. Randolph Community College, based in Asheboro, was the number one community college in the state (second place overall), with Durham Technical Community College (third) and Wayne Community College (fourth).
California has the most affordable community colleges. Despite its reputation for high costs in other categories, California schools occupy all of the top 50 least expensive schools. Each school of those 50 charges full-time, in-state students less than $1,500 annually for tuition and fees. Barstow Community College in Barstow, CA has the lowest tuition and fees at $1,104, but only holds the record by a few dollars.
These southern schools have the highest retention rates. City College in Gainesville, FL reported a 100% retention rate for first-year students moving into their second year during the 2022-2023 school year. Emory University-Oxford College in Oxford, GA had a 95% retention rate, and the State Technical College of Missouri had the third-highest retention rate studywide.
There is a faculty member for every four students at this community college. Harcum College in Bryn Mawr, PA has the lowest student-faculty ratio studywide. The median student-faculty ratio across 616 community colleges was 17, while the maximum was 39.
Top 20 Community Colleges in the U.S.
SmartAsset
Gateway Technical College
Location: Kenosha, WI
Full-time retention rate: 81%
Student-to-faculty ratio: 8
Tuition & fees: $4,766
Randolph Community College
Location: Asheboro, NC
Full-time retention rate: 76%
Student-to-faculty ratio: 9
Tuition & fees: $2,416
Durham Technical Community College
Location: Durham, NC
Full-time retention rate: 66%
Student-to-faculty ratio: 6
Tuition & fees: $2,229
Wayne Community College
Location: Goldsboro, NC
Full-time retention rate: 80%
Student-to-faculty ratio: 12
Tuition & fees: $2,524
Phillips Community College of the University of Arkansas
Location: Helena, AR
Full-time retention rate: 76%
Student-to-faculty ratio: 10
Tuition & fees: $3,500
Edgecombe Community College
Location: Tarboro, NC
Full-time retention rate: 74%
Student-to-faculty ratio: 10
Tuition & fees: $2,640
Wilkes Community College
Location: Wilkesboro, NC
Full-time retention rate: 66%
Student-to-faculty ratio: 7
Tuition & fees: $2,572
North Central Kansas Technical College
Location: Beloit, KS
Full-time retention rate: 83%
Student-to-faculty ratio: 10
Tuition & fees: $8,492
Carteret Community College
Location: Morehead City, NC
Full-time retention rate: 71%
Student-to-faculty ratio: 10
Tuition & fees: $2,610
Northwest Louisiana Technical Community College
Location: Minden, LA
Full-time retention rate: 78%
Student-to-faculty ratio: 12
Tuition & fees: $4,109
James Sprunt Community College
Location: Kenansville, NC
Full-time retention rate: 75%
Student-to-faculty ratio: 12
Tuition & fees: $2,570
Southeastern Community College
Location: Whiteville, NC
Full-time retention rate: 67%
Student-to-faculty ratio: 9
Tuition & fees: $2,600
Sandhills Community College
Location: Pinehurst, NC
Full-time retention rate: 74%
Student-to-faculty ratio: 12
Tuition & fees: $2,764
Lee College
Location: Baytown, TX
Full-time retention rate: 78%
Student-to-faculty ratio: 13
Tuition & fees: $3,882
Arkansas State University Mid-South
Location: West Memphis, AR
Full-time retention rate: 72%
Student-to-faculty ratio: 11
Tuition & fees: $3,346
McDowell Technical Community College
Location: Marion, NC
Full-time retention rate: 59%
Student-to-faculty ratio: 7
Tuition & fees: $1,958
Isothermal Community College
Location: Spindale, NC
Full-time retention rate: 69%
Student-to-faculty ratio: 11
Tuition & fees: $2,030
Beaufort County Community College
Location: Washington, NC
Full-time retention rate: 67%
Student-to-faculty ratio: 10
Tuition & fees: $2,518
Mid-Plains Community College
Location: North Platte, NE
Full-time retention rate: 71%
Student-to-faculty ratio: 11
Tuition & fees: $3,480
Wilson Community College
Location: Wilson, NC
Full-time retention rate: 62%
Student-to-faculty ratio: 8
Tuition & fees: $2,920
Best Community College by State
Alabama: Bevill State Community College
City: Jasper, AL
Rank across the U.S.: 80
Full-time retention rate: 66%
Student-to-faculty ratio: 13
In-state tuition & fees: $5,278
Arizona: Paradise Valley Community College
City: Phoenix, AZ
Rank across the U.S.: 30
Full-time retention rate: 65%
Student-to-faculty ratio: 11
In-state tuition & fees: $2,070
Arkansas: Phillips Community College of the University of Arkansas
City: Helena, AR
Rank across the U.S.: 5
Full-time retention rate: 76%
Student-to-faculty ratio: 10
In-state tuition & fees: $3,500
California: Cabrillo College
City: Aptos, CA
Rank across the U.S.: 37
Full-time retention rate: 74%
Student-to-faculty ratio: 16
In-state tuition & fees: $1,262
Colorado: Community College of Aurora
City: Aurora, CO
Rank across the U.S.: 113
Full-time retention rate: 61%
Student-to-faculty ratio: 13
In-state tuition & fees: $4,030
Connecticut: Asnuntuck Community College
City: Enfield, CT
Rank across the U.S.: 78
Full-time retention rate: 68%
Student-to-faculty ratio: 14
In-state tuition & fees: $4,772
Florida: City College-Gainesville
City: Gainesville, FL
Rank across the U.S.: 32
Full-time retention rate: 100%
Student-to-faculty ratio: 15
In-state tuition & fees: $18,240
Georgia: Georgia State University-Perimeter College
City: Atlanta, GA
Rank across the U.S.: 253
Full-time retention rate: 68%
Student-to-faculty ratio: 20
In-state tuition & fees: $2,960
Hawaii: Kauai Community College
City: Lihue, HI
Rank across the U.S.: 26
Full-time retention rate: 68%
Student-to-faculty ratio: 11
In-state tuition & fees: $3,252
Idaho: College of Eastern Idaho
City: Idaho Falls, ID
Rank across the U.S.: 306
Full-time retention rate: 50%
Student-to-faculty ratio: 13
In-state tuition & fees: $4,390
Illinois: Highland Community College
City: Freeport, IL
Rank across the U.S.: 59
Full-time retention rate: 66%
Student-to-faculty ratio: 11
In-state tuition & fees: $6,904
Indiana: Ivy Tech Community College
City: Indianapolis, IN
Rank across the U.S.: 530
Full-time retention rate: 59%
Student-to-faculty ratio: 23
In-state tuition & fees: $4,637
Iowa: Southeastern Community College
City: West Burlington, IA
Rank across the U.S.: 54
Full-time retention rate: 69%
Student-to-faculty ratio: 12
In-state tuition & fees: $6,210
Kansas: North Central Kansas Technical College
City: Beloit, KS
Rank across the U.S.: 8
Full-time retention rate: 83%
Student-to-faculty ratio: 10
In-state tuition & fees: $8,492
Kentucky: Hopkinsville Community College
City: Hopkinsville, KY
Rank across the U.S.: 246
Full-time retention rate: 63%
Student-to-faculty ratio: 17
In-state tuition & fees: $4,560
Louisiana: Northwest Louisiana Technical Community College
City: Minden, LA
Rank across the U.S.: 10
Full-time retention rate: 78%
Student-to-faculty ratio: 12
In-state tuition & fees: $4,109
Maine: Kennebec Valley Community College
City: Fairfield, ME
Rank across the U.S.: 291
Full-time retention rate: 52%
Student-to-faculty ratio: 14
In-state tuition & fees: $3,687
Maryland: Cecil College
City: North East, MD
Rank across the U.S.: 74
Full-time retention rate: 69%
Student-to-faculty ratio: 12
In-state tuition & fees: $8,310
Massachusetts: Greenfield Community College
City: Greenfield, MA
Rank across the U.S.: 50
Full-time retention rate: 66%
Student-to-faculty ratio: 11
In-state tuition & fees: $5,642
Michigan: Lake Michigan College
City: Benton Harbor, MI
Rank across the U.S.: 28
Full-time retention rate: 79%
Student-to-faculty ratio: 13
In-state tuition & fees: $7,148
Minnesota: North Hennepin Community College
City: Brooklyn Park, MN
Rank across the U.S.: 476
Full-time retention rate: 61%
Student-to-faculty ratio: 21
In-state tuition & fees: $5,050
Mississippi: East Central Community College
City: Decatur, MS
Rank across the U.S.: 194
Full-time retention rate: 64%
Student-to-faculty ratio: 17
In-state tuition & fees: $3,565
Missouri: State Technical College of Missouri
City: Linn, MO
Rank across the U.S.: 45
Full-time retention rate: 88%
Student-to-faculty ratio: 18
In-state tuition & fees: $7,440
Montana: Flathead Valley Community College
City: Kalispell, MT
Rank across the U.S.: 150
Full-time retention rate: 54%
Student-to-faculty ratio: 10
In-state tuition & fees: $6,798
Nebraska: Mid-Plains Community College
City: North Platte, NE
Rank across the U.S.: 19
Full-time retention rate: 71%
Student-to-faculty ratio: 11
In-state tuition & fees: $3,480
New Hampshire: Manchester Community College
City: Manchester, NH
Rank across the U.S.: 143
Full-time retention rate: 58%
Student-to-faculty ratio: 11
In-state tuition & fees: $7,090
New Jersey: Salem Community College
City: Carneys Point, NJ
Rank across the U.S.: 87
Full-time retention rate: 73%
Student-to-faculty ratio: 15
In-state tuition & fees: $6,930
New Mexico: Santa Fe Community College
City: Santa Fe, NM
Rank across the U.S.: 67
Full-time retention rate: 58%
Student-to-faculty ratio: 11
In-state tuition & fees: $2,505
New York: SUNY Adirondack
City: Queensbury, NY
Rank across the U.S.: 190
Full-time retention rate: 63%
Student-to-faculty ratio: 15
In-state tuition & fees: $6,088
North Carolina: Randolph Community College
City: Asheboro, NC
Rank across the U.S.: 2
Full-time retention rate: 76%
Student-to-faculty ratio: 9
In-state tuition & fees: $2,416
North Dakota: Dakota College at Bottineau
City: Bottineau, ND
Rank across the U.S.: 76
Full-time retention rate: 59%
Student-to-faculty ratio: 10
In-state tuition & fees: $5,347
Ohio: Lakeland Community College
City: Kirtland, OH
Rank across the U.S.: 83
Full-time retention rate: 57%
Student-to-faculty ratio: 10
In-state tuition & fees: $4,477
Oklahoma: Northern Oklahoma College
City: Tonkawa, OK
Rank across the U.S.: 211
Full-time retention rate: 65%
Student-to-faculty ratio: 17
In-state tuition & fees: $4,857
Oregon: Klamath Community College
City: Klamath Falls, OR
Rank across the U.S.: 124
Full-time retention rate: 64%
Student-to-faculty ratio: 14
In-state tuition & fees: $4,713
Pennsylvania: Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology
City: Lancaster, PA
Rank across the U.S.: 39
Full-time retention rate: 85%
Student-to-faculty ratio: 16
In-state tuition & fees: $8,450
South Carolina: Orangeburg Calhoun Technical College
City: Orangeburg, SC
Rank across the U.S.: 72
Full-time retention rate: 68%
Student-to-faculty ratio: 13
In-state tuition & fees: $5,954
South Dakota: Mitchell Technical College
City: Mitchell, SD
Rank across the U.S.: 24
Full-time retention rate: 81%
Student-to-faculty ratio: 13
In-state tuition & fees: $7,524
Tennessee: Chattanooga State Community College
City: Chattanooga, TN
Rank across the U.S.: 230
Full-time retention rate: 53%
Student-to-faculty ratio: 13
In-state tuition & fees: $4,430
Texas: Lee College
City: Baytown, TX
Rank across the U.S.: 14
Full-time retention rate: 78%
Student-to-faculty ratio: 13
In-state tuition & fees: $3,882
Utah: Salt Lake Community College
City: Salt Lake City, UT
Rank across the U.S.: 294
Full-time retention rate: 58%
Student-to-faculty ratio: 16
In-state tuition & fees: $4,257
Vermont: Community College of Vermont
City: Montpelier, VT
Rank across the U.S.: 540
Full-time retention rate: 55%
Student-to-faculty ratio: 21
In-state tuition & fees: $6,920
Virginia: Centura College-Virginia Beach
City: Virginia Beach, VA
Rank across the U.S.: 168
Full-time retention rate: 71%
Student-to-faculty ratio: 11
In-state tuition & fees: $16,637
Washington: Shoreline Community College
City: Shoreline, WA
Rank across the U.S.: 269
Full-time retention rate: 54%
Student-to-faculty ratio: 14
In-state tuition & fees: $4,256
West Virginia: Blue Ridge Community and Technical College
City: Martinsburg, WV
Rank across the U.S.: 117
Full-time retention rate: 61%
Student-to-faculty ratio: 13
In-state tuition & fees: $4,128
Wisconsin: Gateway Technical College
City: Kenosha, WI
Rank across the U.S.: 1
Full-time retention rate: 81%
Student-to-faculty ratio: 8
In-state tuition & fees: $4,766
Wyoming: Casper College
City: Casper, WY
Rank across the U.S.: 41
Full-time retention rate: 72%
Student-to-faculty ratio: 14
In-state tuition & fees: $3,528
Data and Methodology
Data for 616 two-year colleges that offer associate degrees and have at least 500 full-time enrollees were ranked based on the following metrics from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) for the 2022-2023 school year:
Retention rate. This is the percentage of first-time students who return to the institution to continue their studies the following fall.
Cost of tuition and fees. This is the cost of tuition and fees for in-state students completing two semesters of coursework.
Student-to-faculty ratio. This is the number of students for every faculty member. This metric was given a half weight.
This story was produced by SmartAsset and reviewed and distributed by Stacker Media.
