Community colleges’ ease of access, relatively low cost and opportunities for under-resourced students, coupled with their high dropout rates and spotty record of upward transfers, have given higher education’s underdog a mercurial reputation.However, with a quarter of Gen Z students between 14 and 18 considering community college, and less than half believing they need four years of postsecondary education to be successful, its potential for higher demand is probable. Similarly, community colleges experienced a whopping 12.4% increase in first-year student enrollment this past Spring semester.With the probability of future higher demand in community colleges high, it’s essential to examine what community colleges around the nation are excelling at providing their students with the best financial bargain and performance outcomes.WalletHub collected data from 668 member institutions in theAmerican Association of Community Colleges, analyzing 19 different metrics that they divided into t...
