- 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
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥: 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.Â
- Cost of tuition and fees. This is the cost of tuition and fees for in-state students completing two semesters of coursework.Â
- Student-to-faculty ratio. This is the number of students for every faculty member. This metric was given a half weight.
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