Some community colleges offer technical credentials; many community colleges carry comprehensive transfer and career-oriented programs. Many community colleges offer adult and continuing education.

The name community college originates from the fact the colleges primarily attract students from the local community and they are often supported by local taxes.

According to the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC), the 1,132+ community colleges in the U.S. enroll nearly half of all undergraduates in the U.S.—just over 13 million students.

These community colleges graduate 20-25 percent of all first-time, full-time students.

For millions of adult learners and students, community colleges are vital pathways to more advanced education or enhanced employment. Earning an associate degree is a springboard to advancement for many, whether they transfer the credits to a four-year college or use it to procure a better job.

An associate degree generally requires at least two but less than four years of full-time equivalent college work.

Junior college graduates are well positioned with technical and workforce skills businesses are looking for while commanding top salaries. According to a 2009 study by The Miami Herald, community college graduates, on average, earn a higher starting salary than those who graduate from four-year institutions.

We selected the top community colleges based on a comparison of several studies and ratings of community colleges, each with their own unique selection criteria, as well as the schools’ reputation and our review of notable community colleges. While completion/graduation rates are important to any college’s success, we identified several factors as especially significant to select the top community colleges:

• Sustained Achievement Outcomes: Ongoing success in student perseverance and completion of Associate Degrees and/or transfer to four-year colleges
• Learning Outcomes: Values and practices that actively engage students and require them to stretch academically; explore learning freely; pursue a variety of educational experiences and areas of study.
• Deployment Outcomes: Strong rates of employment, salaries and advancement for graduates matched with workplace skill needs
• Equitable Outcomes: Policies and practices that result in student diversity and success among low-income students and underrepresented racial/ethnic groups (African American, Hispanic/Latino and Native American)
• Cost-to-Value Outcomes: Reasonable tuition costs, access to financial aid resources and an emphasis on minimizing post-school debt.

These top 50 community colleges measure up strongly on these five outcomes and more.

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1. Walla Walla Community College (WA)
2. Santa Barbara City College (CA)
3. Lake Area Technical Institute (SD)
4. East San Gabriel Valley Regional Occupational Program & Technical Center (CA)
5. New Mexico Military Institute (NM)
6. North Central Kansas Technical College (KS)
7. Valencia College (FL)
8. Snow College (UT)
9. Saint Paul College (MN)
10. Mayland Community College (NC)
11. Northwest Iowa Community College (IA)
12. Southeast Community College Lincoln (NE)
13. Victor Valley College (CA)
14. Georgia Military College (GA)
15. DeAnza College (CA)
16. Marion Military Institute (AL)
17. Kingsborough Community College (NY)
18. Western Wyoming Community College (WY)
19. North Iowa Area Community College (IA)
20. Northeast Alabama Community College (AL)
21. Colorado Mountain College (CO)
22. Mitchell Technical Institute (SD)
23. Itasca Community College (MN)
24. Alexandria Technical & Community College (MN)
25. West Kentucky Community & Technical College (KY)
26. Rend Lake College (IL)
27. Ellsworth Community College (IA)
28. Pearl River Community College (MS)
29. Brazosport College (TX)
30. Pierce College (WA)
31. Garden City Community College (KS)
32. Independence Community College (KS)
33. Coconino Community College (AZ)
34. Southeast Kentucky Community & Technical College (KY)
35. Moorpark College (CA)
36. Clarendon College (TX)
37. College of the Ouachitas (AR)
38. Foothill College (CA)
39. Northeast Iowa Community College (IA)
40. Chippewa Valley Technical College (WI)
41. Kaskaskia College (IL)
42. Southwest Texas Junior College (TX)
43. Mott Community College (MI)
44. Linn State Technical College (MO)
45. Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College (MS)
46. Washington County Community College (ME)
47. Northland Community & Technical College (MN)
48. Coastal Carolina Community College (NC)
49. Normandale Community College (MN)
50. Schoolcraft College (MI)