Best Community Colleges 2024: Top Public Colleges and Universities in the United States

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By Adam Winch

Best Community Colleges: If you seek affordable post-secondary education options in the United States, Community Colleges are feasible. They are extremely feasible and offer quality education.

The pathway to higher education gets a lot easier. These colleges provide a golden option of transferring to four-year degrees in universities of choice.

They offer two-year tertiary education, remedial degrees, certification courses, high school diploma, general education development, technical degrees, and even a few limited four-year degrees.

The students can get a headstart to further education by enrolling in a community college.

There are more than a thousand community colleges in the nation, each of the 47 states offering quality education. Additionally, you can transfer to universities for undergraduate degree courses after attending a community college and find ample work opportunities.

The concept of community colleges that the US government funds has benefitted many students over the years. However, there are myriad options to choose from. This can result in uncertainty.

To choose the best community colleges for you, check the subsequent list and rankings. Highly and well-ranked such colleges are easy to get into. All you need to do is shortlist the one right for you and apply.

Best Community Colleges 2024

Community Colleges offer post-secondary education. These are public institutions and are highly convenient as well as affordable.

The kind of education at these colleges is not the exact caliber of established universities. However, they have a lot of offers. They can contribute to providing a tangent to your higher education. Moreover, if you are not willing to take up undergraduate education, you can definitely join community colleges.

They offer multiple associate degree options and even undergraduate degrees. Furthermore, you can also get your certifications, GEDs, diplomas, and more basic higher Education at these colleges.

The tuition fees at such colleges are extremely minimal, and they are very helpful in providing affordable education compared to the 4-year degree universities.

The professors are usually highly qualified, holding prestigious degrees in the field and working part-time.

This makes education at such institutions even better as this is a collaborative effort where well-versed citizens can help others by communicating education at extremely affordable colleges.

The program has been a success over the years. Students have transferred to well-ranked four-year degrees or have kickstarted their careers through two-year degrees or diplomas.

Difference Between Community Colleges and Colleges

As made abundantly clear above, community colleges are more about providing post-secondary education other than four-year degrees. They are more about providing associate degrees or immediate diplomas that can aid in finding jobs.

They are highly affordable. Community Colleges are not a bad choice if you want an inexpensive, quality education. They do not limit your education. You can even transfer to four-year degrees after the completion of your education.

They only provide a feasible headstart. They are not only affordable but also easy to get in. The course structures and education are structured in a way that only makes it easier to get into a good and well-ranked four-year degree college.

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List of Top Ten 2-Year Public Institutions

There are 47 states in the country, and each state has a decent number of community colleges that offer quality education. You can look for the best ones in your state or check the collective list.

The ensuing list ranks the top 10 institutions you can be admitted to. All the details you need to know regarding the colleges have been provided subsequently.

State Technical College of Missouri

The Higher Learning Commission-accredited State Technical College of Missouri is the only public two-year college in the state. It is a good technical institution and one of the best community colleges in the United States.

It is missioned to deliver exclusive technical education to students at an affordable fee. There is a provision for open admission, making it more convenient and easy to get into.

The acceptance rate is 100%. Moreover, the job placement rate is also very high, nearly 99%. The fee structure is straightforward, and the students must pay fees based on their chosen course and credit hours.

You can check more details about the State Technical College of Missouri on its official portal.

New Mexico Military Institute

Located in the city of Roswell in the Nex Mexico state, the institute has gained a substantial appreciation for the exceptional educative measures undertaken.

There is a teacher for nearly every 15 students, and the college has a high placement rate of 94%. The tuition fee is less than $7,000, making it incredibly affordable. Additionally, there are various aids and scholarships available that one can apply for.

The students must observe that the college does not have a provision for open admission. The acceptance rate is quite as low as 35%.

This college has a very adamant and rigorous admission policy. The students must check every detail if they aim for this particular college. All the details are available on the website of the New Mexico Military Institute.

Santa Barbara City College

The Santa Barbara City College is in Santa Barbara City California state. The institution is full of multiple academic opportunities and offers many educative classes.

It is highly affordable for the kind of learning quality it provides students. They are required to pay $46.00 per unit, irrespective of their residency. The institution doesn’t have a rigorous policy in terms of acceptance.

The rate is 100%, implying that every student who applies for an associate degree or any other 2-year course at the college will surely get in.

The campus is extremely beautiful, and the teachers have been reported to be highly helpful and assist the students in every way possible. You can check all the respective details pertaining to the college on its official website at www.sbcc.edu.

Pasadena City College

Located in Pasadena City, California, this institution is also one of the most highly ranked and acknowledged colleges in the state.

They offer programs in fields such as Psychology, Humanities, Law, Biological Sciences, and much more. The place is affordable, exclusively depending on the applicant’s household income.

The quality of education is unmatchable and extremely high. You can find many career opportunities opening up through this university.

Despite being so well-ranked, there is no adamancy in accepting students. The institution provides an educative opportunity to nearly every eligible student who applies. For more details, you can check all the details on the official portal of the college at the link pasadena.edu.

Lake Area Technical College

The Lake Area Technical College in Watertown of South Dakota, is one of those community colleges in the United States that provide myriad options for technical education.

Students who are interested in fields such as Agricultural Business, Diesel Machinery, Automotive, Robotics, and more.

The college offers all the learnings at a linear fee of less than $ 7,000. However, there are no dorms, housing, or others that the college helps with. Thus, the students aiming for this institution must figure out their accommodation.

The acceptance rate at the institution is 100%, and the students can easily get in if they are eligible. You can apply and check further details on the official portal of the college at www.lakeareatech.edu.

Northwest Iowa Community College

In the Sheldon district of Iowa state, the Northwest Iowa Community College is a public college that offers many academic opportunities to the candidates.

They offer GED, High School Diplomas, and other related degrees or certifications. The students have to apply online and submit all the details of their educational and personal details.

Additionally, complete transcripts and more have to be submitted to the authorities. Nearly every valid and eligible application that the candidates receive an offer letter.

For all the information and precise admission details, you can check the college’s web portal at nwicc.edu.

Sacramento City College

Rightly as the name suggests, Sacramento City College is located in the city of Sacramento, California State, in the United States.

The Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges has accredited the institution. It offers academic opportunities and associate degrees in Arts and Science.

The college is incredibly affordable. Additionally, there are many aid and scholarship schemes that are available for students to apply to.

The average costs have been reported as nearly $6,000. The authorities do not adopt rigorous and adamant admission policies. Consequently, the acceptance rate has been 100% throughout the years. All the respective details are available on the official website of the college at scc.losrios.edu.

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Bronx Community College

Located in New York, the Bronx Community College is a part of the City University of New York system.

The college is actively the Center for Sustainable Energy and has programmes in the related field of education. Additionally, they offer various other academic opportunities. The workforce focuses on student development and promotes holistic training.

There are multiple financial assistance programmes and scholarships that can even contribute to an exemption from payment of any amount.

The college is highly reputed and is one of the most popular community colleges in New York. Check all the details and apply for the course of your choice on the dedicated web page of the college.

Walla Walla Community College

Located in the southeastern territories of Washington state, the Walla Walla Community College is also pronounced CC.

It is a multicampus and 2-year public college of education. Workforce training programs are very actively held in the college along with education. The institution focuses on streams such as Arts and Sciences.

They also concentrate on providing basic and soft skills to college attendees. Nearly every application is accepted, which contributes to the 100% acceptance rate. The fee structure is dependent on the household income of the student.

With all the financial aid applications, you will just have to pay a cost as low as $6,000. All the information and in-depth knowledge regarding the institution can be extracted from the authorities. The college has a dedicated webpage to deliver all the insights.

De Anza College

Located in Los Altos Hills, California of the United States, De Anza College is one of the best community colleges in the state.

They offer nearly programs of education that are highly influenced by the insights from professionals in the relevant field.

The special Puente Project ensures that the students who wish to get transferred to 4-year degree programs can get specific assistance regarding the same.

The institution supports technical and creative education. The acceptance rate is 100%, which implies that every applicant can get in if they are eligible and send in proper applications. The fee is minimal and affordable. The aspirants can check more details on official website of De Anza College.

List of Best Community Colleges in the United States

In the following section, you can check the top community colleges in the US state-wise.

You can pick the colleges as per your own preference and get admitted to them by applying. Check the admission policy and every other detail before applying. Additionally, the following colleges have been arranged in alphabetical order. We have tried listing the top 10 colleges from each state:

Alabama

  1. Bishop State Community College
  2. Central Alabama Community College
  3. Enterprise State Community College
  4. Jefferson State Community College
  5. Lawson State Community College
  6. Marion Military Institute
  7. Northeast Community Colleges
  8. Reid State Technical College
  9. Southern Union State Community College
  10. Wallace Community Colleges

Alaska

  1. Iḷisaġvik College
  2. 5 Community Colleges at the University of Alaska Anchorage
  3. 4 Community Colleges at the University of Alaska Fairbanks
  4. 2 Community Colleges at the University of Alaska Southeast

American Samoa

The territory of American Samoa has only one community college by the name of American Samoa Community College. Only American Samoa Residents can be admitted to this college. The territory and the US economy fund it.

Arizona

  1. Arizona Western College
  2. Central Arizona College
  3. Diné College
  4. Eastern Arizona College
  5. GateWay Community College
  6. Mesa Community College
  7. Phoenix College
  8. Rio Salado College
  9. Scottsdale Community College
  10. Tohono Oʼodham Community College

Arkansas

  1. Arkansas Northeastern College
  2. Black River Technical College
  3. East Arkansas Community College
  4. North Arkansas College
  5. Northwest Arkansas Community College
  6. Ozarka College
  7. Southern Arkansas University Tech
  8. Cossatot Community College at The University of Arkansas System
  9. Phillips Community College at The University of Arkansas System
  10. University of Arkansas Rich Mountain at The University of Arkansas System

California

There are nearly 110 community colleges in the state of California. These include American River College, Santa Monica College, Cerritos College, Long Beach City College, Riverside City College, Santa Barbara City College, Los Angeles City College, Feather River College, Crafton Hills College, Foothill College, Irvine Valley College, Laney College, Columbia College, and much more.

Colorado

  1. Aims Community College
  2. Colorado Mountain College
  3. Front Range Community College
  4. Lamar Community College
  5. Morgan Community College
  6. Northeastern Junior College
  7. Otero College
  8. Pikes Peak State College
  9. Trinidad State College
  10. Western Colorado Community College

Connecticut

  1. Asnuntuck Community College
  2. Capital Community College
  3. Gateway Community College
  4. Manchester Community College
  5. Middlesex Community College
  6. Naugatuck Valley Community College
  7. Northwestern Connecticut Community College
  8. Quinebaug Valley Community College
  9. Three Rivers Community College
  10. Tunxis Community College

Delaware

Delaware Technical Community College is the only such 2-year public college in the state of Delaware. It is affiliated with State Grant. The students can get a variety of diplomas, certifications, and other associate degree courses here.

Florida

  1. Broward College
  2. College of Central Florida
  3. Daytona State College
  4. Gulf Coast State College
  5. Hillsborough Community College
  6. Indian River State College
  7. Miami Dade College
  8. North Florida College
  9. St. Petersburg College
  10. Tallahassee Community College

Georgia

All the community colleges in the state of Georgia are a part of the Technical College System of Georgia. The students can check the ensuing list and apply to the institution of their preference:

  1. Atlanta Technical College
  2. Columbus Technical College
  3. Georgia Northwestern Technical College
  4. Lanier Technical College
  5. Moultrie Technical College
  6. North Georgia Technical College
  7. Southeastern Technical College
  8. Southern Regional Technical College
  9. West Georgia Technical College
  10. Wiregrass Georgia Technical College

Guam

Guam only has one community college in the state, and it goes by the name of Guam Community College. Due to this, it is a highly populous institution in the state.

Hawaii

The state of Hawaii has the following community colleges that are a part of the University of Hawaii:

  1. Hawaiʻi Community College
  2. Honolulu Community College
  3. Kapiʻolani Community College
  4. Kauaʻi Community College
  5. Leeward Community College
  6. University of Hawaiʻi Maui College
  7. Windward Community College

Idaho

  1. College of Southern Idaho
  2. College of Western Idaho
  3. College of Eastern Idaho
  4. North Idaho College

Illinois

  1. College of Lake County
  2. Elgin Community College
  3. Harper College
  4. Heartland Community College
  5. John Wood Community College
  6. Moraine Valley Community College
  7. Oakton Community College
  8. Rock Valley College
  9. Southwestern Illinois College
  10. Triton College

Indiana

The state of Indiana has 30 campuses of Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana, which is widespread in the region. You can check the campuses as per your preference and their faculties.

Iowa

  1. Indian Hills Community College
  2. Iowa Central Community College
  3. Iowa Lakes Community College
  4. Iowa Valley Community College District
  5. Iowa Western Community College
  6. North Iowa Area Community College
  7. Northeast Iowa Community College
  8. Southeastern Community College
  9. Southwestern Community College
  10. Western Iowa Tech Community College

Kansas

  1. Allen Community College
  2. Butler Community College
  3. Colby Community College
  4. Donnelly College
  5. Garden City Community College
  6. Highland Community College
  7. Hutchinson Community College
  8. Independence Community College
  9. Neosho County Community College
  10. Seward County Community College

Kentucky

  1. Ashland Community and Technical College
  2. Big Sandy Community and Technical College
  3. Elizabethtown Community and Technical College
  4. Gateway Community and Technical College
  5. Hazard Community and Technical College
  6. Henderson Community College
  7. Jefferson Community and Technical College
  8. Madisonville Community College
  9. Owensboro Community and Technical College
  10. Somerset Community College

Louisiana

  1. Baton Rouge Community College
  2. Central Louisiana Technical Community College
  3. Delgado Community College
  4. L.E. Fletcher Technical Community College
  5. Louisiana Delta Community Colleg
  6. Nunez Community College
  7. River Parishes Community College
  8. South Central Louisiana Technical College
  9. South Louisiana Community College
  10. Sowela Technical Community College

Maine

  1. Central Maine Community College
  2. Eastern Maine Community College
  3. Kennebec Valley Community College
  4. Northern Maine Community College
  5. Southern Maine Community College
  6. Washington County Community College
  7. York County Community College

Maryland

  1. Allegany College of Maryland
  2. Baltimore City Community College
  3. Carroll Community College
  4. College of Southern Maryland
  5. Community College of Baltimore County
  6. Frederick Community College
  7. Garrett College
  8. Howard Community College
  9. Montgomery College
  10. Wor–Wic Community College

Massachusetts

  1. Berkshire Community College
  2. Bristol Community College
  3. Greenfield Community College
  4. Massachusetts Bay Community College
  5. Massasoit Community College
  6. Middlesex Community College
  7. Mount Wachusett Community College
  8. Northern Essex Community College
  9. Roxbury Community College
  10. Springfield Technical Community College

Michigan

  1. Alpena Community College
  2. Delta College
  3. Henry Ford College
  4. Jackson College
  5. Kellogg Community College
  6. Lake Michigan College
  7. Muskegon Community College
  8. North Central Michigan College
  9. Oakland Community College
  10. St. Clair County Community College

Minnesota

  1. Century College
  2. Dakota County Technical College
  3. Hennepin Technical College
  4. Inver Hills Community College
  5. Lake Superior College
  6. Normandale Community College
  7. Northland Community & Technical College
  8. Pine Technical and Community College
  9. Rochester Community and Technical College
  10. Saint Paul College

Mississippi

  1. East Central Community College
  2. East Mississippi Community College
  3. Hinds Community College
  4. Holmes Community College
  5. Jones County Junior College
  6. Meridian Community College
  7. Mississippi Delta Community College
  8. Northeast Mississippi Community College
  9. Pearl River Community College
  10. Southwest Mississippi Community College

Missouri

  1. East Central College
  2. Jefferson College
  3. Metropolitan Community College
  4. Mineral Area College
  5. Missouri State University–West Plains
  6. North Central Missouri College
  7. Ozarks Technical Community College
  8. St. Louis Community College
  9. State Fair Community College
  10. Three Rivers College

Montana

  1. Aaniiih Nakoda College
  2. Dawson Community College
  3. Flathead Valley Community College
  4. Fort Peck Community College
  5. Great Falls College Montana State University
  6. Helena College University of Montana
  7. Little Big Horn College
  8. Miles Community College
  9. Missoula College University of Montana
  10. Stone Child College

Nebraska

  1. Central Community College
  2. Metropolitan Community College
  3. Mid-Plains Community College
  4. Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture
  5. Nebraska Indian Community College
  6. Northeast Community College
  7. Southeast Community College
  8. Western Nebraska Community College

Nevada

  1. College of Southern Nevada
  2. Truckee Meadows Community College
  3. Western Nevada College

New Hampshire

  1. Great Bay Community College
  2. Lakes Region Community College
  3. Manchester Community College
  4. Nashua Community College
  5. NHTI – Concord’s Community College
  6. River Valley Community College
  7. White Mountains Community College

New Jersey

  1. Atlantic Cape Community College
  2. Brookdale Community College
  3. County College of Morris
  4. Essex County College
  5. Hudson County Community College
  6. Middlesex College
  7. Ocean County College
  8. Sussex County Community College
  9. Union County College
  10. Warren County Community College

State of New Mexico

  1. Central New Mexico Community College
  2. Clovis Community College
  3. Diné College
  4. Doña Ana Community College
  5. Luna Community College
  6. Mesalands Community College
  7. New Mexico Junior College
  8. Northern New Mexico College
  9. San Juan College
  10. Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute

New York State

  1. Bronx Community College
  2. Columbia–Greene Community College
  3. Corning Community College
  4. Dutchess Community College
  5. Hudson Valley Community College
  6. Kingsborough Community College
  7. North Country Community College
  8. Queensborough Community College
  9. Rockland Community College
  10. SUNY Community Colleges

North Carolina

There are more than 50 community colleges in the state of North Carolina. These include Durham Technical Community College, Blue Ridge Community College, Richmond Community College, Vance–Granville Community College, Asheville–Buncombe Technical Community College, Central Carolina Community College, McDowell Technical Community College, Stanly Community College, and others.

North Dakota

  1. Bismarck State College
  2. Cankdeska Cikana Community College
  3. Dakota College at Bottineau
  4. Lake Region State College
  5. North Dakota State College of Science
  6. Nueta Hidatsa Sahnish College
  7. Sitting Bull College
  8. Turtle Mountain Community College
  9. United Tribes Technical College
  10. Williston State College

Northern Mariana Islands

Northern Marianas College is the only community college in the United States Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands and is built on a public grant land. It offers education in Business, Liberal Arts, Mathematics, Sciences, Nursing, and much more.

Ohio

  1. Belmont College
  2. Columbus State Community College
  3. Eastern Gateway Community College
  4. Hocking College
  5. North Central State College
  6. Owens Community College
  7. Rio Grande Community College
  8. Southern State Community College
  9. Stark State College
  10. Washington State Community College

Oklahoma

  1. Carl Albert State College
  2. Eastern Oklahoma State College
  3. Murray State College
  4. Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College
  5. Northern Oklahoma College
  6. Oklahoma City Community College
  7. Redlands Community College
  8. Seminole State College
  9. Tulsa Community College
  10. Western Oklahoma State College

Oregon

  1. Blue Mountain Community College
  2. Central Oregon Community College
  3. Clackamas Community College
  4. Clatsop Community College
  5. Columbia Gorge Community College
  6. Mt. Hood Community College
  7. Oregon Coast Community College
  8. Portland Community College
  9. Rogue Community College
  10. Southwestern Oregon Community College

Pennsylvania

  1. Butler County Community College
  2. Community College of Philadelphia
  3. Delaware County Community College
  4. Harrisburg Area Community College
  5. Luzerne County Community College
  6. Montgomery County Community College
  7. Northampton Community College
  8. Pennsylvania Highlands Community College
  9. Reading Area Community College
  10. Westmoreland County Community College

Puerto Rico

The region of Puerto Rico in the United States only has one community college for students. The public 2-year degree institute is called Instituto Comercial de Puerto Rico.

Rhode Island

The Community College of Rhode Island is the largest in New England in the United States. It is the only community college in the state.

South Carolina

  1. Central Carolina Technical College
  2. Denmark Technical College
  3. Greenville Technical College
  4. Midlands Technical College
  5. Northeastern Technical College
  6. Piedmont Technical College
  7. Technical College of the Lowcountry
  8. Tri-County Technical College
  9. Trident Technical College
  10. York Technical College

South Dakota

  1. Kilian Community College
  2. Lake Area Technical College
  3. Mitchell Technical Institute
  4. Oglala Lakota College
  5. Sisseton Wahpeton College
  6. Southeast Technical Institute
  7. Western Dakota Technical Institute

Tennessee

  1. Cleveland State Community College
  2. Columbia State Community College
  3. Jackson State Community College
  4. Motlow State Community College
  5. Nashville State Community College
  6. Northeast State Community College
  7. Pellissippi State Community College
  8. Roane State Community College
  9. Southwest Tennessee Community College
  10. Walters State Community College

Texas

  1. Central Texas College
  2. Dallas College
  3. Mountain View Campus
  4. Houston Community College
  5. Howard College
  6. South Texas College
  7. Texas State Technical College
  8. Trinity Valley Community College
  9. Victoria College
  10. Weatherford College

Utah

  • Salt Lake Community College
  • Snow College
  • Utah State University Eastern

Vermont

  • Community College of Vermont
  • Vermont Technical College

Virginia

  1. Blue Ridge Community College
  2. Central Virginia Community College
  3. Danville Community College
  4. Eastern Shore Community College
  5. Germanna Community College
  6. Brightpoint Community College
  7. Mountain Empire Community College
  8. New River Community College
  9. Thomas Nelson Community College
  10. Virginia Western Community College

Washington

  1. Edmonds College
  2. Green River College
  3. Highline College
  4. Lower Columbia College
  5. North Seattle College
  6. Olympic College
  7. Peninsula College
  8. Seattle Central College
  9. Shoreline Community College
  10. South Seattle College

West Virginia

  1. Blue Ridge Community and Technical College
  2. BridgeValley Community and Technical College
  3. Eastern West Virginia Community and Technical College
  4. Mountwest Community and Technical College
  5. New River Community and Technical College
  6. Pierpont Community and Technical College
  7. Potomac State College of West Virginia University
  8. Southern West Virginia Community and Technical College
  9. West Virginia Northern Community College
  10. West Virginia University at Parkersburg

Wisconsin

  • College of Menominee Nation
  • Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwa Community College
  • University of Wisconsin Colleges
  • Wisconsin Technical College System

Wyoming

  • Casper College
  • Central Wyoming College
  • Eastern Wyoming College
  • Laramie County Community College
  • Northern Wyoming Community College District

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