50 Best Community Colleges of 2021

The best community colleges provide an effective springboard into higher education, offering students high-quality two-year degree programs in a wide range of disciplines. The top rated community colleges offer a broad selection of associate’s degrees, affordable tuition rates, and strong partnerships with public four-year schools so that students can easily transfer their credits into accredited bachelor’s degree programs.

By AI Staff

What is a community college? A community college is a public two-year college that awards associate degrees as well as some professional certifications. Community colleges typically attract students drawn from the surrounding region. Top community colleges tend to offer a wide selection of associate degrees spanning a variety of disciplines. Community colleges can be especially attractive to students interested in getting an affordable start on a four-year degree. So too, these schools appeal to students seeking professional two-year degrees designed to provide technical and practical skills for immediate entrance into the job market.

We’ve identified 839 community colleges in the US. In order to be included in this list of the best community colleges, a school needs to satisfy the following three conditions:

It must be fully accredited.
It must have a student body of at least 1,000 students.
It must exclusively provide two-year, or associate, degree programs.

How do we determine the best community colleges?

The people affiliated with a school are ultimately what make it great. For associate degree rankings, we rank the best two-year colleges based upon what we call “Concentrated Influence.” Concentrated Influence takes the combined influence score of a college’s top academic influencers (including faculty and alums) and divides it by the school’s total number of students.

Using concentrated influence gives small and mid-sized schools an opportunity to shine by taking away the size advantage of larger schools. A small school with proportionately more influential faculty than a large school, whose influence in absolute terms may be bigger, will nonetheless score higher in a concentrated influence ranking. Our approach highlights community colleges that truly rank for excellence, regardless of size.

If you are serious about finding the best community colleges for an associate’s degree or professional certification, you should be asking where the most influential professors are teaching, and whether their graduates themselves are advancing the school’s reputation for academic excellence.

Most ranking sites rely on an opaque combination of reputation surveys and arbitrary performance metrics. Concentrated Influence provides a ranking which is free from bias, insulated from manipulation, and reflective of real-world educational outcomes.

Find out more about our ranking methodology here.

The Best Community Colleges in the U.S.

#1
Anne Arundel Community College
#566 institution's overall influence
Tuition + fees
$8K
Student body
8K
Arnold, MD
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What is Anne Arundel Community College known for?
Anne Arundel Community College is most influential in:
Law
Criminal Justice
Computer Science
Business
Medical
Sociology
Education
Engineering
#2
Roxbury Community College
#3878 institution's overall influence
Tuition + fees
$6K
Student body
1K
Roxbury Crossing, MA
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What is Roxbury Community College known for?
Roxbury Community College is most influential in:
Mathematics
Medical
Criminal Justice
Education
Nursing
Biology
Computer Science
#3
Eastern Maine Community College
#3212 institution's overall influence
Tuition + fees
$4K
Student body
2K
Bangor, ME
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What is Eastern Maine Community College known for?
Eastern Maine Community College is most influential in:
Nursing
Criminal Justice
Education
Medical
#4
Springfield Technical Community College
#2583 institution's overall influence
Tuition + fees
$5K
Student body
4K
Springfield, MA
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What is Springfield Technical Community College known for?
Springfield Technical Community College is most influential in:
Business
Criminal Justice
Medical
Education
Computer Science
Biology
Nursing
#5
College of Marin
#1175 institution's overall influence
Tuition + fees
$1K
Student body
3K
Kentfield, CA
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What is College of Marin known for?
College of Marin is most influential in:
Anthropology
Computer Science
Physics
Chemistry
Literature
Medical
Communications
Biology
Engineering
Business
#6
Los Angeles City College
#668 institution's overall influence
Tuition + fees
$1K
Student body
9K
Los Angeles, CA
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What is Los Angeles City College known for?
Los Angeles City College is most influential in:
Literature
Business
Communications
Chemistry
Political Science
Medical
Psychology
Engineering
Sociology
Social Work
#7
Lamar Institute of Technology
#3964 institution's overall influence
Tuition + fees
$5K
Student body
2K
Beaumont, TX
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What is Lamar Institute of Technology known for?
Lamar Institute of Technology is most influential in:
Nursing
Criminal Justice
Computer Science
Political Science
#8
Kennedy–King College
#1452 institution's overall influence
Tuition + fees
$9K
Student body
2K
Chicago, IL
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What is Kennedy–King College known for?
Kennedy–King College is most influential in:
Social Work
Communications
Biology
Criminal Justice
Computer Science
Medical
#9
West Kentucky Community and Technical College
#3793 institution's overall influence
Tuition + fees
$4K
Student body
3K
Paducah, KY
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What is West Kentucky Community and Technical College known for?
West Kentucky Community and Technical College is most influential in:
Engineering
Computer Science
Nursing
Medical
Criminal Justice
#10
Lamar State College–Port Arthur
#4097 institution's overall influence
Tuition + fees
$6K
Student body
1K
Port Arthur, TX
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What is Lamar State College–Port Arthur known for?
Lamar State College–Port Arthur is most influential in:
Criminal Justice
Computer Science
Nursing
Communications
Education
#11
Montgomery College
#1340 institution's overall influence
Tuition + fees
$10K
Student body
15K
Rockville, MD
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What is Montgomery College known for?
Montgomery College is most influential in:
Communications
Nursing
Medical
Criminal Justice
Business
Computer Science
Education
Engineering
#12
Mitchell Community College
#4083 institution's overall influence
Tuition + fees
$3K
Student body
2K
Statesville, NC
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What is Mitchell Community College known for?
Mitchell Community College is most influential in:
Engineering
Medical
Social Work
Business
Criminal Justice
Computer Science
Nursing
Education
#13
Pulaski Technical College
#4146 institution's overall influence
Tuition + fees
$5K
Student body
4K
North Little Rock, AR
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What is Pulaski Technical College known for?
Pulaski Technical College is most influential in:
Business
Computer Science
Education
#14
Northern Essex Community College
#4297 institution's overall influence
Tuition + fees
$5K
Student body
3K
Haverhill, MA
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What is Northern Essex Community College known for?
Northern Essex Community College is most influential in:
Criminal Justice
Social Work
Medical
Computer Science
Business
Education
Biology
Nursing
#15
Eastern Arizona College
#1032 institution's overall influence
Tuition + fees
$3K
Student body
4K
Thatcher, AZ
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What is Eastern Arizona College known for?
Eastern Arizona College is most influential in:
Chemistry
History
Anthropology
Literature
Earth Sciences
Sociology
Biology
Business
Physics
Education
#16
Massachusetts Bay Community College
#4879 institution's overall influence
Tuition + fees
$5K
Student body
3K
Wellesley Hills, MA
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What is Massachusetts Bay Community College known for?
Massachusetts Bay Community College is most influential in:
Criminal Justice
Medical
Social Work
Literature
Computer Science
Biology
Education
Communications
Nursing
#17
County College of Morris
#3102 institution's overall influence
Tuition + fees
$9K
Student body
6K
Randolph, NJ
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What is County College of Morris known for?
County College of Morris is most influential in:
Computer Science
Engineering
Criminal Justice
Medical
Nursing
Education
Business
Communications
#18
Bunker Hill Community College
#2515 institution's overall influence
Tuition + fees
$4K
Student body
8K
Boston, MA
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What is Bunker Hill Community College known for?
Bunker Hill Community College is most influential in:
Computer Science
Medical
Criminal Justice
Biology
Engineering
Literature
Communications
History
Social Work
Chemistry
#19
Chabot College
#1441 institution's overall influence
Tuition + fees
$1K
Student body
8K
Hayward, CA
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What is Chabot College known for?
Chabot College is most influential in:
Communications
Literature
Business
Nursing
Computer Science
Medical
Chemistry
Political Science
Criminal Justice
Education
#20
Holyoke Community College
#3911 institution's overall influence
Tuition + fees
$5K
Student body
4K
Holyoke, MA
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What is Holyoke Community College known for?
Holyoke Community College is most influential in:
Criminal Justice
Medical
Social Work
Nursing
Computer Science
Business
Education
Engineering
#21
Capital Community College
#6131 institution's overall influence
Tuition + fees
$4K
Student body
2K
Hartford, CT
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What is Capital Community College known for?
Capital Community College is most influential in:
Social Work
Nursing
Chemistry
Mathematics
Literature
Biology
Political Science
Education
Medical
Communications
#22
Columbia College
#5438 institution's overall influence
Tuition + fees
$1K
Student body
1K
Sonora, CA
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What is Columbia College known for?
Columbia College is most influential in:
Biology
Social Work
Medical
Earth Sciences
Mathematics
Psychology
Criminal Justice
Education
Business
#23
BGSU Firelands
#5354 institution's overall influence
Tuition + fees
$5K
Student body
1K
Huron, OH
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What is BGSU Firelands known for?
BGSU Firelands is most influential in:
Computer Science
Criminal Justice
Education
Engineering
Business
#24
Brookdale Community College
#2243 institution's overall influence
Tuition + fees
$8K
Student body
9K
Lincroft, NJ
View profile
What is Brookdale Community College known for?
Brookdale Community College is most influential in:
Communications
Criminal Justice
Medical
Social Work
Business
Computer Science
Engineering
Law
Education
Nursing
#25
Bossier Parish Community College
#3508 institution's overall influence
Tuition + fees
$4K
Student body
4K
Bossier City, LA
View profile
What is Bossier Parish Community College known for?
Bossier Parish Community College is most influential in:
Engineering
Criminal Justice
Computer Science
Nursing
Medical
Business
Education
#26
Los Angeles Valley College
#1585 institution's overall influence
Tuition + fees
$1K
Student body
10K
Valley Glen, CA
View profile
What is Los Angeles Valley College known for?
Los Angeles Valley College is most influential in:
Computer Science
Communications
Chemistry
Literature
History
Economics
Medical
Engineering
Nursing
Psychology
#27
Butler Community College
#2102 institution's overall influence
Tuition + fees
$4K
Student body
6K
El Dorado, KS
View profile
What is Butler Community College known for?
Butler Community College is most influential in:
Engineering
Criminal Justice
Communications
Business
Psychology
Education
Mathematics
Nursing
Biology
Computer Science
#28
Community College of Beaver County
#6238 institution's overall influence
Tuition + fees
$11K
Student body
2K
Monaca, PA
View profile
What is Community College of Beaver County known for?
Community College of Beaver County is most influential in:
Biology
Literature
Education
Engineering
Medical
Business
#29
De Anza College
#1389 institution's overall influence
Tuition + fees
$2K
Student body
15K
Cupertino, CA
View profile
What is De Anza College known for?
De Anza College is most influential in:
Computer Science
Business
Mathematics
Communications
Economics
Political Science
Literature
History
Education
Criminal Justice
#30
Western Piedmont Community College
#7396 institution's overall influence
Tuition + fees
$3K
Student body
1K
Morganton, NC
View profile
What is Western Piedmont Community College known for?
Western Piedmont Community College is most influential in:
Medical
Computer Science
Education
#31
Sacramento City College
#1570 institution's overall influence
Tuition + fees
$1K
Student body
13K
Sacramento, CA
View profile
What is Sacramento City College known for?
Sacramento City College is most influential in:
Philosophy
Psychology
Literature
Medical
Earth Sciences
Chemistry
History
Anthropology
Mathematics
Business
#32
City College of San Francisco
#981 institution's overall influence
Tuition + fees
$2K
Student body
15K
San Francisco, CA
View profile
What is City College of San Francisco known for?
City College of San Francisco is most influential in:
Nursing
Earth Sciences
Social Work
Communications
Criminal Justice
History
Literature
Political Science
Sociology
Business
#33
Nassau Community College
#1342 institution's overall influence
Tuition + fees
$6K
Student body
14K
Garden City, NY
View profile
What is Nassau Community College known for?
Nassau Community College is most influential in:
Sociology
Communications
Medical
Business
Computer Science
Social Work
Criminal Justice
Nursing
Education
#34
West Valley College
#2266 institution's overall influence
Tuition + fees
$1K
Student body
5K
Saratoga, CA
View profile
What is West Valley College known for?
West Valley College is most influential in:
Communications
Physics
Mathematics
Biology
Computer Science
Engineering
Chemistry
Medical
History
Business
#35
Santa Fe Community College
#5377 institution's overall influence
Tuition + fees
$2K
Student body
3K
Santa Fe, NM
View profile
What is Santa Fe Community College known for?
Santa Fe Community College is most influential in:
Sociology
Physics
Criminal Justice
Communications
Law
Computer Science
Education
Social Work
Psychology
#36
Fullerton College
#1161 institution's overall influence
Tuition + fees
$1K
Student body
15K
Fullerton, CA
View profile
What is Fullerton College known for?
Fullerton College is most influential in:
Literature
Biology
Earth Sciences
Computer Science
Religious Studies
Engineering
Chemistry
Communications
History
Medical
#37
Bronx Community College
#2036 institution's overall influence
Tuition + fees
$5K
Student body
7K
Bronx, NY
View profile
What is Bronx Community College known for?
Bronx Community College is most influential in:
Criminal Justice
Engineering
Physics
Computer Science
Mathematics
Literature
Education
Medical
Social Work
Nursing
#38
Merritt College
#2903 institution's overall influence
Tuition + fees
$1K
Student body
4K
Oakland, CA
View profile
What is Merritt College known for?
Merritt College is most influential in:
Business
Communications
Mathematics
Criminal Justice
Education
Sociology
Computer Science
Medical
Social Work
Nursing
#39
Trinity Valley Community College
#3167 institution's overall influence
Tuition + fees
$5K
Student body
4K
Athens, TX
View profile
What is Trinity Valley Community College known for?
Trinity Valley Community College is most influential in:
Criminal Justice
Business
Nursing
Computer Science
Education
Medical
#40
Lassen College
#7168 institution's overall influence
Tuition + fees
$1K
Student body
1K
Susanville, CA
View profile
What is Lassen College known for?
Lassen College is most influential in:
Sociology
Literature
Medical
Biology
Criminal Justice
History
#41
Northwest Mississippi Community College
#2367 institution's overall influence
Tuition + fees
$3K
Student body
6K
Senatobia, MS
View profile
What is Northwest Mississippi Community College known for?
Northwest Mississippi Community College is most influential in:
Nursing
Medical
Computer Science
#42
Mesa Community College
#2403 institution's overall influence
Tuition + fees
$2K
Student body
11K
Mesa, AZ
View profile
What is Mesa Community College known for?
Mesa Community College is most influential in:
Medical
Communications
Business
Nursing
Education
Criminal Justice
Computer Science
#43
North Dakota State College of Science
#5004 institution's overall influence
Tuition + fees
$5K
Student body
2K
Wahpeton, ND
View profile
What is North Dakota State College of Science known for?
North Dakota State College of Science is most influential in:
Nursing
Computer Science
Biology
#44
Scottsdale Community College
#3581 institution's overall influence
Tuition + fees
$2K
Student body
5K
Scottsdale, AZ
View profile
What is Scottsdale Community College known for?
Scottsdale Community College is most influential in:
Criminal Justice
Medical
Business
Nursing
Education
#45
Richland Community College
#7409 institution's overall influence
Tuition + fees
$6K
Student body
2K
Decatur, IL
View profile
What is Richland Community College known for?
Richland Community College is most influential in:
Sociology
Criminal Justice
Computer Science
Engineering
Nursing
Medical
Education
Business
#46
LaGuardia Community College
#1911 institution's overall influence
Tuition + fees
$5K
Student body
12K
Long Island City, NY
View profile
What is LaGuardia Community College known for?
LaGuardia Community College is most influential in:
Education
Nursing
Literature
Engineering
Psychology
Medical
Communications
Criminal Justice
Social Work
#47
Central Wyoming College
#4927 institution's overall influence
Tuition + fees
$3K
Student body
1K
Riverton, WY
View profile
What is Central Wyoming College known for?
Central Wyoming College is most influential in:
Earth Sciences
Nursing
Communications
Engineering
Computer Science
Mathematics
Criminal Justice
Psychology
Education
Business
#48
Lewis and Clark Community College
#4347 institution's overall influence
Tuition + fees
$10K
Student body
3K
Godfrey, IL
View profile
What is Lewis and Clark Community College known for?
Lewis and Clark Community College is most influential in:
Nursing
Engineering
Communications
Computer Science
Biology
Business
Criminal Justice
Medical
#49
Cañada College
#3799 institution's overall influence
Tuition + fees
$1K
Student body
3K
Redwood City, CA
View profile
What is Cañada College known for?
Cañada College is most influential in:
Physics
Engineering
Mathematics
Communications
Sociology
Psychology
Political Science
Computer Science
History
Biology
#50
Baltimore City Community College
#3724 institution's overall influence
Tuition + fees
$3K
Student body
3K
Baltimore, MD
View profile
What is Baltimore City Community College known for?
Baltimore City Community College is most influential in:
Medical
Business
Social Work
Engineering
Criminal Justice
Education
Nursing