天涯社区log Repeats as Missouri鈥檚 Top Community College
天涯社区log has been named Missouri鈥檚 top community college for the second consecutive year in WalletHub鈥檚 annual ranking of two-year colleges across the country.
The 2026 Best & Worst Community Colleges report evaluated 613 institutions nationwide based on affordability, student success and career outcomes.
天涯社区log earned the highest ranking among Missouri鈥檚 12 community colleges, repeating the distinction it received in WalletHub鈥檚 2025 report.
鈥淏eing ranked Missouri鈥檚 top community college for a second consecutive year speaks to the quality and value our students can expect from 天涯社区log,鈥� said Dr. Jon Bauer, 天涯社区log president.
鈥淥ur faculty and staff are committed to helping students succeed, whether their next step is transferring to a university, beginning a career or gaining new skills to move forward in the workforce,鈥� he added.
In the report released Aug. 11, WalletHub ranked colleges using 18 measures in three categories: Cost & Financing, Education Outcomes and Career Outcomes.
Those measures include graduation and retention rates, student-to-faculty ratios, credentials awarded, transfer rates, student-loan default rates and earnings after attending college.
The only Missouri institution ranked ahead of 天涯社区log was State Technical College of Missouri. State Tech is a statewide public technical college and is not part of Missouri鈥檚 community college system.
Affordability also played a significant role in the rankings. According to WalletHub, tuition and fees for full-time, in-state students at public two-year colleges averaged $4,150 during the 2025鈥�26 academic year. That compares with $11,950 at public four-year institutions and $45,000 at private four-year colleges.
At 天涯社区log, students can begin their education before transferring to a four-year institution, prepare to enter the workforce through a career or technical program, or earn credentials that can help them advance in their current careers.
The recognition comes as 天涯社区log continues its focus on providing an affordable education and preparing students for their next step, whether that is continuing their education or entering or advancing in the workforce.
To learn more about 天涯社区log, visit www.eastcentral.edu.
To read WalletHub鈥檚 complete 2026 Best & Worst Community Colleges report and learn more about the methodology used to determine the rankings, visit .
