Nearly a third of all undergraduates are twenty-five or older. Yet no publication ranks colleges based on how well they serve adult students—except the Washington Monthly. We rank two-year colleges (defined as awarding more certificates or associate’s degrees than bachelor’s degrees) according to factors that specifically affect adult students, including ease of transfer, flexibility of schedule, and services for adults.
Click here for detailed methodology, here for the rest of our rankings, and here to download the data set.
| Rank | Name | Ease of transfer (4 pts) | Flexibility of programs (9 pts) | Services for adult students (6 pts) | % students over age 25 | Part-time student grad rate | Mean earnings of independent students | Loan repayment rate of independent students | In-district tuition and fees |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Penn State Fayette-Eberly (PA)* | 4 | 9 | 6 | 18% | 73% | $52,441 | 58% | $13,616 |
| 2 | Renton Technical College (WA)* | 4 | 7 | 6 | 67% | 68% | $37,893 | 43% | $5,004 |
| 3 | Lakeshore Technical College (WI)* | 4 | 8 | 6 | 48% | 63% | $35,153 | 61% | $4,125 |
| 4 | St Josephs Hospital Health Center School of Nursing (NY) | 3 | 4 | 5 | 44% | 89% | $59,427 | 73% | $19,360 |
| 5 | Penn. State University-Mont Alto (PA)* | 4 | 9 | 5 | 21% | 52% | $52,441 | 58% | $13,678 |
| 6 | Fox Valley Technical College-Appleton (WI)* | 4 | 8 | 6 | 42% | 55% | $34,845 | 56% | $4,436 |
| 7 | Foothill College (CA)* | 3 | 5 | 5 | 42% | 13% | $64,895 | 60% | $1,551 |
| 8 | Raritan Valley Community College (NJ)* | 4 | 8 | 6 | 28% | 23% | $45,658 | 59% | $4,224 |
| 9 | Ranken Tehcnical College (MO) | 4 | 8 | 5 | 42% | 72% | $43,379 | 47% | $14,457 |
| 10 | Lake Washington Institute of Technology (WA)* | 3 | 5 | 6 | 62% | 46% | $44,667 | 55% | $4,059 |
| 11 | Northcentral Technical College (WI)* | 4 | 8 | 5 | 44% | 53% | $36,837 | 54% | $4,313 |
| 12 | Inver Hills Community College (MN)* | 4 | 9 | 5 | 35% | 32% | $44,103 | 52% | $5,285 |
| 13 | Harcum College (PA) | 4 | 7 | 6 | 54% | 64% | $43,532 | 54% | $22,760 |
| 14 | Vermont Technical College* | 4 | 5 | 4 | 38% | 71% | $46,399 | 76% | $14,026 |
| 15 | Waukesha County Technical College (WI)* | 4 | 8 | 6 | 37% | 40% | $37,374 | 51% | $4,157 |
| 16 | North Shore Community College (MA)* | 4 | 8 | 6 | 40% | 34% | $34,328 | 63% | $4,848 |
| 17 | Mid-State Technical College (WI)* | 4 | 8 | 5 | 46% | 56% | $33,836 | 50% | $4,321 |
| 18 | Pennslyvania State University-Dubois* | 4 | 7 | 5 | 18% | 53% | $52,441 | 58% | $13,616 |
| 19 | Walla Walla Community College (WA)* | 4 | 6 | 6 | 54% | 52% | $34,807 | 46% | $4,203 |
| 20 | Howard Community College (MD)* | 4 | 8 | 6 | 34% | 18% | $45,045 | 49% | $4,224 |
| 21 | Capital Community College (CT)* | 3 | 8 | 6 | 54% | 24% | $39,468 | 61% | $4,236 |
| 22 | County College of Morris (NJ)* | 4 | 8 | 5 | 23% | 26% | $45,005 | 67% | $4,690 |
| 23 | Montgomery College (MD)* | 4 | 7 | 6 | 35% | 15% | $46,458 | 56% | $4,902 |
| 24 | Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College (WI)* | 3 | 8 | 5 | 48% | 67% | $32,862 | 54% | $4,598 |
| 25 | Diablo Valley College (CA)* | 4 | 7 | 6 | 31% | 16% | $45,356 | 48% | $1,308 |
| 26 | Mount Wachusett Community College (MA) | 4 | 8 | 6 | 41% | 25% | $34,664 | 61% | $5,188 |
| 27 | Western Wisconsin Technical College (WI)* | 3 | 8 | 6 | 65% | 37% | $32,894 | 46% | $3,776 |
| 28 | Rockland Community College (NY)* | 4 | 8 | 6 | 25% | 22% | $41,546 | 56% | $4,815 |
| 29 | Massachusetts Bay Community College (MA)* | 4 | 5 | 5 | 40% | 21% | $47,066 | 67% | $4,808 |
| 30 | University of Cinncinati-Raymond Walters (OH)* | 3 | 9 | 6 | 21% | 27% | $46,895 | 53% | $6,010 |
| 31 | Central Texas College (TX)* | 4 | 8 | 6 | 55% | 9% | $37,044 | 44% | $2,280 |
| 32 | Pennslyvania State University-Hazleton (PA)* | 4 | 7 | 5 | 9% | 50% | $52,441 | 58% | $14,072 |
| 33 | Southern Arkansas University Tech (AR)* | 4 | 7 | 6 | 33% | 68% | $30,720 | 41% | $4,677 |
| 34 | Montgomery County Community College (PA)* | 4 | 9 | 6 | 33% | 13% | $41,879 | 46% | $5,610 |
| 35 | Nicolet Area Technical College (WI)* | 4 | 6 | 6 | 40% | 54% | $31,049 | 56% | $4,642 |
| 36 | Quincy College (MA)* | 4 | 8 | 4 | 48% | 17% | $44,844 | 56% | $5,910 |
| 37 | Hagerstown Community College (MD)* | 4 | 8 | 6 | 33% | 32% | $35,518 | 48% | $3,564 |
| 38 | Skagit Valley College (WA)* | 4 | 6 | 6 | 47% | 35% | $35,483 | 53% | $4,200 |
| 39 | Naugatuck Valley Community College (CT)* | 4 | 6 | 6 | 36% | 21% | $40,135 | 63% | $4,208 |
| 40 | ECPI College of Technology (VA)° | 3 | 7 | 5 | 72% | 67% | $41,816 | 33% | $14,775 |
| 41 | Middlesex Community College (MA)* | 4 | 8 | 5 | 33% | 22% | $38,073 | 66% | $4,730 |
| 42 | Lower Columbia College (WA)* | 4 | 8 | 5 | 44% | 45% | $35,079 | 41% | $4,131 |
| 43 | College of the Canyons (CA)* | 4 | 7 | 6 | 32% | 11% | $44,509 | 44% | $1,154 |
| 44 | Colby Community College (KS)* | 3 | 7 | 5 | 20% | 83% | $33,225 | 57% | $3,150 |
| 45 | Gateway Community College (AZ)* | 4 | 7 | 6 | 53% | 21% | $36,088 | 40% | $2,094 |
| 46 | Olympic College (WA)* | 4 | 5 | 6 | 47% | 41% | $35,110 | 52% | $3,618 |
| 47 | City College of San Francisco (CA)* | 3 | 7 | 6 | 57% | 12% | $41,824 | 47% | $1,598 |
| 48 | Mesa Community College (AZ)* | 4 | 8 | 6 | 37% | 10% | $41,383 | 40% | $2,094 |
| 49 | Southern Wisconsin Technical College (WI)* | 4 | 7 | 5 | 25% | 55% | $33,401 | 59% | $4,340 |
| 50 | University of Pittsburgh-Titusville (PA)* | 4 | 6 | 5 | 19% | 27% | $54,478 | 61% | $11,808 |
| 51 | Oakton Community College (IL)* | 3 | 7 | 6 | 39% | 14% | $41,422 | 66% | $3,621 |
| 52 | Saddleback College (CA)* | 3 | 7 | 6 | 35% | 15% | $44,365 | 54% | $1,326 |
| 53 | Milwaukee Area Technical College (WI)* | 4 | 8 | 6 | 55% | 24% | $32,927 | 37% | $4,426 |
| 54 | Pennslyvania College of Technology (PA)* | 4 | 9 | 6 | 19% | 44% | $40,765 | 50% | $16,080 |
| 55 | Northwest Florida State College (FL)* | 4 | 7 | 6 | 39% | 31% | $33,530 | 49% | $3,123 |
| 56 | Community College of Rhode Island (RI)* | 4 | 6 | 6 | 37% | 33% | $33,731 | 60% | $4,266 |
| 57 | Nassau Community College (NY)* | 4 | 6 | 6 | 24% | 28% | $44,610 | 47% | $5,248 |
| 58 | East Los Angeles College (CA)* | 4 | 7 | 6 | 47% | 13% | $36,230 | 44% | $1,244 |
| 59 | Florida Commuinty College-Jacksonville (FL)* | 3 | 8 | 6 | 45% | 35% | $35,484 | 42% | $2,765 |
| 60 | Normandale Community College (MN)* | 4 | 7 | 6 | 28% | 16% | $42,411 | 53% | $5,730 |
| 61 | College of Dupage (IL)* | 3 | 9 | 6 | 34% | 24% | $39,019 | 46% | $4,050 |
| 62 | Sheridan College (WY)* | 4 | 7 | 5 | 36% | 30% | $36,062 | 57% | $3,156 |
| 63 | Orange Coast College (CA)* | 3 | 8 | 6 | 29% | 17% | $40,869 | 54% | $1,184 |
| 64 | Ohlone College (CA)* | 4 | 6 | 5 | 36% | 9% | $46,783 | 50% | $1,162 |
| 65 | Cape Cod Community College (MA)* | 4 | 7 | 6 | 43% | 19% | $35,775 | 50% | $4,320 |
| 66 | Bucks County Community College (PA)* | 4 | 7 | 6 | 29% | 9% | $41,672 | 55% | $4,298 |
| 67 | Nebraska College of Business (NE)° | 4 | 7 | 4 | 79% | 50% | $41,044 | 26% | $15,352 |
| 68 | Broward Community College (FL)* | 3 | 8 | 6 | 36% | 29% | $38,415 | 45% | $2,753 |
| 69 | Bunker Hill Community College (MA)* | 4 | 6 | 6 | 42% | 17% | $36,623 | 55% | $3,888 |
| 70 | Spokane Community College (WA)* | 2 | 7 | 6 | 68% | 45% | $35,417 | 38% | $3,393 |
| 71 | SUNY Delhi (NY)* | 4 | 5 | 6 | 23% | 49% | $38,693 | 55% | $7,875 |
| 72 | Gateway Community College (CT)* | 3 | 8 | 6 | 40% | 20% | $35,717 | 59% | $4,168 |
| 73 | Prince George's Community College (MD)* | 3 | 7 | 6 | 41% | 12% | $46,830 | 42% | $3,650 |
| 74 | Ohio State-Marion (OH)* | 3 | 7 | 6 | 14% | 33% | $47,935 | 53% | $7,140 |
| 75 | Moraine Park Technical College (WI)* | 3 | 8 | 4 | 62% | 34% | $35,548 | 53% | $4,340 |
| 76 | Northampton County Area Community College (PA)* | 4 | 7 | 6 | 33% | 20% | $36,232 | 52% | $4,110 |
| 77 | Jones College-Jacksonville (FL) | 4 | 6 | 3 | 85% | 67% | $33,121 | 27% | $7,650 |
| 78 | Napa Valley College (CA)* | 3 | 6 | 6 | 32% | 11% | $45,241 | 58% | $1,142 |
| 79 | Skyline College (CA)* | 3 | 6 | 6 | 35% | 13% | $41,883 | 63% | $1,446 |
| 80 | Illinois Eastern Comm. Coll.-Wabash Vall. (IL)* | 4 | 6 | 5 | 75% | 21% | $28,181 | 55% | $3,466 |
| 81 | Shoreline Community College (WA)* | 3 | 4 | 6 | 40% | 33% | $45,117 | 54% | $3,735 |
| 82 | Andover College (ME)° | 4 | 7 | 4 | 82% | 33% | $41,044 | 26% | $11,601 |
| 83 | Whatcom Community College (WA)° | 3 | 8 | 6 | 26% | 41% | $35,853 | 51% | $4,316 |
| 84 | Sante Fe Community College (NM)* | 3 | 7 | 6 | 56% | 17% | $34,844 | 50% | $1,695 |
| 85 | Wenatchee Valley College (WA)° | 4 | 7 | 5 | 31% | 44% | $35,446 | 44% | $3,678 |
| 86 | Bismarck State College (ND)* | 4 | 5 | 5 | 32% | 20% | $43,493 | 62% | $3,659 |
| 87 | College of Southern Maryland (MD)* | 3 | 8 | 6 | 29% | 17% | $42,088 | 50% | $3,631 |
| 88 | Tacoma Community College (WA)° | 4 | 4 | 6 | 45% | 37% | $38,780 | 42% | $3,686 |
| 89 | Marion Technical College (OH)° | 4 | 9 | 5 | 38% | 33% | $30,636 | 45% | $4,480 |
| 90 | Fayetteville Technical Community College (NC)* | 4 | 8 | 5 | 56% | 32% | $32,526 | 27% | $2,528 |
| 91 | Delaware County Community College (PA)* | 3 | 9 | 5 | 38% | 20% | $41,745 | 47% | $4,960 |
| 92 | Portland Community College (OR)* | 4 | 5 | 6 | 50% | 15% | $39,383 | 47% | $3,802 |
| 93 | Cascadia Community College (WA)° | 4 | 6 | 4 | 17% | 32% | $49,539 | 50% | $3,753 |
| 94 | Quinsigamond Community College (MA)° | 3 | 8 | 5 | 39% | 26% | $38,074 | 60% | $5,394 |
| 95 | North Hennepin Community College (MN)* | 3 | 9 | 4 | 43% | 26% | $41,680 | 48% | $4,367 |
| 96 | Front Range Community Colleget (CO)* | 3 | 8 | 5 | 37% | 30% | $39,124 | 51% | $3,660 |
| 97 | Bellevue Community College (WA)° | 2 | 6 | 5 | 32% | 39% | $47,764 | 61% | $3,624 |
| 98 | Erie Community College-Central Report (NY)° | 4 | 8 | 6 | 33% | 20% | $35,823 | 43% | $5,408 |
| 99 | San Diego Mesa College (CA)* | 3 | 7 | 6 | 35% | 12% | $42,143 | 49% | $1,142 |
| 100 | Bristol Community College (MA)* | 3 | 9 | 6 | 37% | 23% | $31,544 | 57% | $4,464 |