Looking for an affordable way to start college? A new WalletHub study ranks the best community colleges in the country, and the top spot goes to a school in Missouri.
How the Ranking Works
WalletHub looked at 613 community colleges across 18 measures of cost and quality. These included in-state tuition, scholarships, graduation rates and how much graduates earn after leaving school.
The Top School
State Technical College of Missouri ranked No. 1 in the nation. Missouri’s neighbor, Kansas, is home to the second-best community college on the list.
New Mexico schools also performed well. Mesalands Community College stood out for its classroom environment, with the eighth-best student-to-faculty ratio among the colleges studied. New Mexico also offers the Lottery Scholarship, which covers full tuition for local high school graduates who enroll full-time and keep a 2.5 GPA.
Why Community College Is Worth a Look
Cost is a big reason. In the 2025-26 school year, full-time, in-state students at public two-year colleges paid an average of $4,150 a year in tuition and fees. That’s far less than the $11,950 average at public four-year schools.
Many Americans also see community colleges as a better deal. In a Lumina Foundation-Gallup poll, 59% of people said four-year colleges don’t charge fair prices. When asked about two-year colleges, 40% said they do charge fair prices.
What Makes a Great Community College
According to the study, the best schools help students even after graduation, with job services that connect them to well-paying work. Many also give credit for real-life experience, recognizing that learning happens outside the classroom too.