Looking to choose the best from the dizzying array of the nation’s community colleges? WalletHub ranked 821 community colleges from best to worst, looking at career outcomes, education outcomes, and cost and financing.
The list does not include all community colleges in the U.S. According to the Department of Education, the U.S. is home to more than 1,000 public community colleges.
In WalletHub’s analysis, New York City’s Helene Fuld College of Nursing was the best community college overall, when looking at all metrics of cost and educational and career outcomes in combination. In second place was Ilisagvik College, a tribal college serving nearly 200 students, located in the Arctic Circle, in Barrow, Alaska. Pamlico Community College, in Grantsboro, North Carolina.
When looking at career outcomes only, Trinity College of Nursing and Health Sciences led the way, followed by Helene Fuld College of Nursing. Norwalk Community College, in Norwalk, Connecticut, came in third, according to WalletHub. Both Trinity College and Helene Fuld had among the highest in-state cost for tuition and fees.
As for the education outcomes, the Los Angeles, California-based Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising was judged to be the best, followed by Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College, and Ranken Technical College in Missouri.
The three colleges at the bottom of the list were Hudson County Community College in New Jersey, Austin Community College District in Austin, Texas, and the University of Rio Grande in Ohio.