These are the 10 best community colleges nationwide

A competitive community college keeps costs low for students while providing top-tier instruction that leads to retention and high graduation rates. If you’re seeking examples, look no further.

WalletHub’s latest national ranking tells us which institutions excel in each of these criteria. According to the data, Manhattan Area Technical College in Kansas tops 2024’s list.

Graduates of Manhattan Area Technical College earn a median salary of more than $50,000, the fifth-highest among the schools in this report. It also has the lowest student-loan default rate, the fifth-highest graduation rate and the third-best retention rate of students between years one and two.

Now, let’s take a look at the rest of the colleges that earned WalletHub’s top 10 spot:

1. Manhattan Area Technical College (Kansas)
2. State Technical College of Missouri
3. Pratt Community College (Kansas)
4. Santa Fe Community College (Florida)
5. Southeast New Mexico College
6. Irvine Valley College (California)
7. Moraine Park Technical College (Wisconsin)
8. CT State Community College Asnuntuck (Connecticut)
9. College of San Mateo (California)
10. Montgomery College (Maryland)

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The researchers also captured data that reveals the best institutions based on other relevant achievements, including in-state tuition and fees. Let’s take a look at some of those:

Best institutions for the cost of in-state tuition and fees

1. San Bernardino Valley College (California)
2. Tohono O’odham Community College (Arizona)
3. Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute (New Mexico)
4. Barstow Community College (California)
5. Taft College (California)

Per-pupil spending

Each of these institutions is tied for number one.

1. Southeast New Mexico College (New Mexico)
2. Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute (New Mexico)
3. Leech Lake Tribal College (Minnesota)
4. CUNY Stella and Charles Guttman Community College (New York)
5. Chief Dull Knife College (Montana)

If you didn’t see your college on the list, take a look at the full report here. Or, tinker with the interactive map below.