Best junior colleges in the US? California has 3 in the top 15. Here’s where

California has 116 community colleges with an enrollment of 2.2 million students for the 2024–25 academic year, according to California Community Colleges.

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Taking into account cost, quality of education and career outcomes, the latest WalletHub survey of junior colleges across the U.S. has identified three California community colleges considered among the best.

Here’s what to know:

How was the ranking developed?

WalletHub analyzed 613 schools from the list of member institutions in the American Association of Community Colleges. The schools were evaluated not just on cost and the quality of schooling, but also on student-faculty ratios and graduation rates using a 100-point scale.

Which California community colleges stood out?

Three California community colleges ranked in the top 15 in the country.

Saddleback College

Located in Mission Vejo, the junior college stood out for its strong academic programs and high graduation rates. The school ranked No. 6 in best community colleges overall.

Santa Rosa Junior College

Santa Rosa Junior College was ranked No. 12 overall. The two-year institution in Sonoma County offers more than 100 majors and 150 certificates.

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College of San Mateo

The school was ranked No. 15 for having a wealth of programs that include traditional, semester-length and short courses in addition to distance education.

What are the best community colleges in 2026?

State Technical College of Missouri topped the list as the best. About 90% of students stay with the school from the first year to the second year and the school had the best retention rates. Its graduation rate was 79%.

Other schools that made the list:

1. State Technical College of Missouri
2. Manhattan Area Technical College in New York
3. Mesalands Community College in New Mexico
4. Mitchell Technical College in South Dakota
5. Pratt Community College in Kansas

What community colleges ranked at the bottom?

Chief Dull Knife College was ranked at the bottom of the list. The Montana college ranked No. 609 for career outcomes and No. 538 for education outcomes.

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Here are the other colleges with low rankings:

1. Chief Dull Knife College in Montana
2. Little Big Horn College in Montana
3. Mississippi Delta Community College in Mississippi
4. Essex County College in New Jersey
5. Leech Lake Tribal College in Minnesota