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Does college pay off?
In recent years, young Americans have expressed more skepticism about the financial value of higher education. While prospective students often ask themselves if college is worth it, this report shows the more important question is when college is worth it. University of New Haven President Dr. Jens Frederiksen, joined LiveNOW from FOX to break down student's ROI's.
Community colleges continue to offer students a more affordable path to higher education, with tuition costs significantly lower than those at four-year institutions.
To identify the best community colleges in the United States, WalletHub evaluated 613 schools across 18 indicators of cost and quality. The analysis included factors such as in-state tuition and fees, student-faculty ratios, graduation rates and career outcomes.
State Technical College of Missouri takes the top spot
Big picture view:
State Technical College of Missouri, located in Osage County, Missouri, ranked No. 1 in the nation in WalletHub's 2026 study.
The college stood out for its student retention and graduation rates. About 90% of students returned for their second year, the highest retention rate among the schools evaluated. Its 79% graduation rate was also the highest in the study.
Financial assistance further strengthened the school's appeal. Students received an average of $9,223 in grant or scholarship aid, the third-highest amount among the colleges analyzed.
Kansas, New Mexico colleges also rank high
Dig deeper:
Manhattan Area Technical College in Manhattan, Kansas, placed second overall.
The college's strong career outcomes helped propel it near the top of the ranking. More than 77% of former students earned more than the average income of people ages 25 to 34 whose highest level of education was a high school diploma.
Graduates also reported a median salary of nearly $52,000, which ranked 11th-highest among the schools in the study.
State Technical College of Missouri ranked No. 1 among 613 community colleges evaluated nationwide. (Credit: Getty Images)
Meanwhile, Mesalands Community College in Tucumcari, New Mexico, ranked third nationally.
The college posted the 12th-highest graduation rate in WalletHub's study, while its graduates were also among those least likely to default on student debt.
Mesalands additionally stood out for its classroom environment. Its student-to-faculty ratio ranked eighth-best among the colleges evaluated, giving students access to a relatively favorable faculty-to-student ratio.
What they're saying:
"A good community college minimizes costs for students while also providing an enriching learning experience that leads to high student retention and high graduation rates," Chip Lupo, a WalletHub analyst, said in a statement. "The best colleges also help their students even post-graduation by offering employment services to help them find jobs with good salaries. Finally, many of the best community colleges realize school isn’t the only place people learn, so they offer credit for life experiences."
Top Community Colleges in 2026
- State Technical College of Missouri: Missouri
- Manhattan Area Technical College: Kansas
- Mesalands Community College: New Mexico
- Mitchell Technical College: South Dakota
- Pratt Community College: Kansas
See the full report here.
Cost of two-year community college is significantly lower
Why you should care:
During the 2025-26 academic year, full-time, in-state students at public two-year colleges averaged $4,150 per year in tuition and fees, according to data cited by WalletHub. That compares with an average of $11,950 at public four-year institutions and about $45,000 at private four-year schools.
RELATED: Is college still worth it? Americans weigh in on school costs, value of degree: poll
In a poll, published last year byLumina Foundation and Gallup, 59% of respondents said they don’t think four-year colleges charge fair prices for what they offer students, compared to 18% who disagreed.
However, when it comes to the cost of two-year colleges, 40% of respondents said that these academic institutions charge fair prices.
The Source: The information for this story was provided by WalletHub. This story was reported from Los Angeles. Previous FOX Local reporting contributed.