Researchers looked at 18 quality indicators, ranging from in-state tuition and fees to student-faculty ratios and graduation rates.
Irvine Valley College, No. 6; College of San Mateo, No. 9, Moreno Valley College, No. 12; De Anza College, No.13; Saddleback College, No. 14; and Santa Rosa Junior College, No. 16, were among the national top 20 list.
"A good community college minimizes costs for students while also providing an enriching learning experience that leads to high student retention and high graduation rates," WalletHub Analyst Cassandra Happe said.
"The best colleges also help their students even post-graduation by offering employment services to help them find jobs with good salaries," she added. "Finally, many of the best community colleges realize school isn’t the only place people learn, so they offer credit for life experiences."
What are the top 20 community colleges in the U.S.?
Overall Rank
Community College
Total Score
1
Manhattan Area Technical College
70.63
2
State Technical College of Missouri
70.5
3
Pratt Community College
68.09
4
Santa Fe Community College
67.84
5
Southeast New Mexico College
67.49
6
Irvine Valley College
67.48
7
Moraine Park Technical College
67.45
8
CT State Community College Asnuntuck
67.17
9
College of San Mateo
66.9
10
Montgomery College
66.54
11
Clackamas Community College
66.52
12
Moreno Valley College
66.48
13
De Anza College
66.4
14
Saddleback College
66.36
15
San Juan College
66.28
16
Santa Rosa Junior College
66.23
17
CT State Community College Naugatuck Valley
66.17
18
Northland Community and Technical College
65.86
19
CT State Community College Manchester
65.85
20
Casper College
65.83
Low cost is one key advantage of community colleges.
During the 2023 to 2024 academic year, WalletHub found that full time enrollment at community college cost an average of $3,990 per year, compared to $11,260 at a public university and $41,540 at a private college.
"Community colleges also have a number of other attractive qualities," the report added. "They often provide flexible schedules, small class sizes and rigorous coursework. Some even go beyond two-year programs to offer four-year bachelor’s degrees."
What are the top 20 community colleges in California?
Rank
Community College
Total Score
1
Irvine Valley College
67.48
2
College of San Mateo
66.9
3
Moreno Valley College
66.48
4
De Anza College
66.4
5
Saddleback College
66.36
6
Santa Rosa Junior College
66.23
7
Norco College
65.35
8
Evergreen Valley College
64.97
9
West Hills College-Lemoore
64.19
10
Orange Coast College
64.16
11
Golden West College
64.12
12
Pasadena City College
64.11
13
Los Angeles Harbor College
63.97
14
Los Angeles Pierce College
63.71
15
San Jose City College
63.46
16
Riverside City College
63.16
17
Butte College
62.7
18
Ohlone College
62.3
19
Cerritos College
62
20
Sierra College
61.93
The California Community Colleges system was first established in 1967.
It currently has about 2 million students, representatives said.
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