2016 US Top 20 Community Colleges
The ranking of Top 20 US Community Colleges for 2016 is from the NJMED’s two-year colleges Higher Education Index database.
Similarly, to NJMED’s 4-Year College Ranking system, the community college rankings are based on six criteria: graduation rates; student retention rates; Full-time faculty; the school’s in-state tuition and fees; the percentage of full-time first-time undergraduates receiving financial aid; and the average amount of grant aid they received from federal, state and private sources combined.
The methodology used to rank the colleges, were calculated based on each criteria’s score from 1 to 20; 20 representing the highest score. Each community college’s overall score was then divided by 5 to give each college a quality means average.
The Results: The 20 Community Colleges with the highest averages out of the 200 two-year Higher Education Index database, were selected for this year’s rankings.
NJMED’s 2016 Top 20 Community Colleges Rankings
- East San Gabriel Valley Regional Occupational Program & Technical Center (CA) – 17.7
- North Central Kansas Technical College (KS) – 16.6
- New Mexico Military Institute (NM) – 15.6
- Lake Area Technical Institute (SD) – 14.1
- D G Erwin Technical Center (FL) – 14.1
- Flint Hills Technical College (KS) – 11.9
- Walla Walla Community College (WA) – 11.3
- Georgia Military College (GA) – 10.8
- Mayland Community College (NC) – 10.4
- Utah State University-College of Eastern Utah Price (UT) – 10.3
- Snow College (UT) – 10.1
- De Anza College (CA) – 10.1
- Santa Barbara City College (CA) – 10.0
- CUNY Kingsborough Community College (NY) – 9.8
- Northwest Iowa Community College (IA) – 9.6
- Victor Valley College (CA) – 9.3
- Saint Paul College (MN) – 9.3
- Southeast Community College Lincoln (NE) – 9.1
- White Mountains Community College (NH) – 8.9
- Valencia College (FL) – 8.3
2-Year Criteria
Graduation Rate:
Completion Rates: Number of students that graduate within 2 years, and measures the student support services offered by the college towards graduation.
Student Retention Rates:
The number of returning students for the next year fall semester.
Full-Time Faculty:
The number of full-time faculty members that provide instruction, research, or public service, for the community college.
In-State Tuition and Fees:
Measured the cost per year for local students compared to other community colleges.
Number of Full-time in-coming Freshmen that Receive Financial Aid:
Measured the number of incoming freshmen who received student aid equal to the total amount of grants, loans, and scholarships awarded by the institution the prior year.
The Average Amount of Federal, State and Private Financial Support the College is Awarded:
The total amount of grants, loans, and scholarships available for in-state and out of state students
Data Collection
Statistical data were collected from Institutions database and educational publications to create NJ MED’s 2-year Higher Education Index database for use in the criteria value scores.
