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 max) | Flexibility of programs (9 pts max) | Services for adult students (6 pts max) | % of 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 | Renton Technical College (WA)* | 4 | 8 | 6 | 67% | 50% | $40,938 | 49% | $5,377 |
| 2 | Lakeshore Technical College (WI)* | 4 | 8 | 6 | 49% | 55% | $35,570 | 61% | $4,184 |
| 3 | Penn State–Shenango (PA)* | 4 | 7 | 5 | 41% | 50% | $54,925 | 56% | $13,324 |
| 4 | Vermont Technical College (VT)* | 4 | 6 | 4 | 39% | 64% | $46,897 | 77% | $14,690 |
| 5 | Harcum College (PA) | 4 | 7 | 6 | 53% | 60% | $49,542 | 53% | $23,670 |
| 6 | Fox Valley Technical College–Appleton (WI)* | 4 | 8 | 6 | 36% | 55% | $35,239 | 52% | $4,497 |
| 7 | Pacific Union College (CA) | 4 | 7 | 5 | 14% | 62% | $67,105 | 62% | $29,469 |
| 8 | Foothill College (CA)* | 3 | 6 | 5 | 41% | 13% | $65,687 | 56% | $1,554 |
| 9 | St. Joseph's College of Nursing (NY) | 3 | 3 | 5 | 39% | 79% | $57,623 | 72% | $19,700 |
| 10 | Univ. of Cinncinati–Blue Ash (OH)* | 4 | 9 | 6 | 20% | 26% | $49,652 | 52% | $6,010 |
| 11 | Raritan Valley Community College (NJ)* | 4 | 8 | 6 | 27% | 20% | $46,719 | 59% | $4,416 |
| 12 | County College of Morris (NJ)* | 4 | 8 | 5 | 22% | 28% | $46,318 | 66% | $4,830 |
| 13 | North Shore Community College (MA)* | 4 | 8 | 6 | 39% | 30% | $36,827 | 59% | $4,944 |
| 14 | Ranken Technical College (MO)* | 4 | 8 | 5 | 38% | 63% | $45,469 | 46% | $14,457 |
| 15 | Inver Hills Community College (MN)* | 4 | 9 | 5 | 34% | 31% | $45,395 | 50% | $5,333 |
| 16 | Mount Wachusett Community College (MA)* | 4 | 8 | 6 | 41% | 23% | $36,980 | 61% | $5,428 |
| 17 | Penn State University–Mont Alto (PA)* | 4 | 6 | 5 | 18% | 57% | $54,925 | 56% | $13,694 |
| 18 | Walla Walla Community College (WA)* | 4 | 7 | 6 | 54% | 47% | $36,235 | 42% | $4,455 |
| 19 | Massachusetts Bay Community College (MA)* | 4 | 6 | 5 | 39% | 21% | $47,763 | 66% | $5,088 |
| 20 | Mid-State Technical College (WI)* | 4 | 8 | 5 | 43% | 53% | $34,788 | 48% | $4,371 |
| 21 | Capital Community College (CT)* | 3 | 8 | 6 | 55% | 23% | $38,793 | 59% | $4,356 |
| 22 | Bismarck State College (ND)* | 4 | 6 | 5 | 32% | 30% | $46,477 | 63% | $3,832 |
| 23 | Montgomery College (MD)* | 4 | 7 | 6 | 33% | 15% | $48,114 | 55% | $4,974 |
| 24 | Northcentral Technical College (WI)* | 4 | 8 | 4 | 38% | 57% | $36,810 | 51% | $3,497 |
| 25 | Naugatuck Valley Community College (CT)* | 4 | 7 | 6 | 35% | 20% | $40,374 | 62% | $4,316 |
| 26 | Penn State–DuBois (PA)* | 4 | 7 | 5 | 16% | 44% | $54,925 | 56% | $13,632 |
| 27 | Middlesex Community College (MA)* | 4 | 8 | 5 | 33% | 21% | $39,982 | 67% | $4,752 |
| 28 | Southwest Wisconsin Technical College (WI) | 4 | 7 | 5 | 26% | 64% | $34,698 | 56% | $4,340 |
| 29 | Penn State–Hazleton (PA)* | 4 | 7 | 5 | 9% | 50% | $54,925 | 56% | $14,460 |
| 30 | Howard Community College (MD)* | 4 | 8 | 6 | 35% | 16% | $46,212 | 47% | $4,363 |
| 31 | Montana State University–Northern (MT)* | 4 | 8 | 5 | 30% | 34% | $37,165 | 64% | $5,861 |
| 32 | Napa Valley College (CA)* | 3 | 7 | 6 | 31% | 15% | $47,844 | 61% | $1,142 |
| 33 | Skagit Valley College (WA)* | 4 | 7 | 6 | 45% | 34% | $36,092 | 50% | $4,200 |
| 34 | Quincy College (MA)* | 4 | 8 | 4 | 49% | 19% | $46,512 | 55% | $6,306 |
| 35 | Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College (WI) | 3 | 8 | 5 | 45% | 59% | $33,520 | 53% | $4,662 |
| 36 | SUNY Delhi (NY)* | 4 | 6 | 6 | 25% | 53% | $38,743 | 55% | $8,120 |
| 37 | Bunker Hill Community College (MA)* | 4 | 7 | 6 | 43% | 17% | $38,947 | 55% | $4,224 |
| 38 | ECPI University (VA)° | 3 | 7 | 5 | 70% | 74% | $41,614 | 33% | $15,051 |
| 39 | Diablo Valley College (CA)* | 4 | 7 | 6 | 31% | 15% | $46,223 | 46% | $1,312 |
| 40 | Orange Coast College (CA)* | 3 | 9 | 6 | 30% | 18% | $42,759 | 51% | $1,186 |
| 41 | Olympic College (WA)* | 4 | 6 | 6 | 43% | 39% | $36,574 | 46% | $3,693 |
| 42 | Rockland Community College (NY)* | 4 | 8 | 6 | 25% | 21% | $42,789 | 50% | $5,037 |
| 43 | Waukesha County Technical College (WI)* | 4 | 7 | 6 | 36% | 35% | $37,756 | 46% | $4,211 |
| 44 | Bucks County Community College (PA)* | 4 | 8 | 6 | 28% | 8% | $43,312 | 55% | $4,418 |
| 45 | Lewis-Clark State College (ID)* | 4 | 7 | 6 | 32% | 31% | $38,161 | 54% | $6,334 |
| 46 | University of Pittsburgh–Titusville (PA)* | 4 | 7 | 5 | 17% | 19% | $55,826 | 60% | $11,788 |
| 47 | University of South Carolina–Lancaster (SC)* | 4 | 5 | 5 | 13% | 19% | $60,317 | 59% | $6,948 |
| 48 | Lower Columbia College (WA)* | 4 | 9 | 5 | 44% | 42% | $35,945 | 36% | $4,275 |
| 49 | Community College of Rhode Island (RI)* | 4 | 7 | 6 | 37% | 22% | $34,686 | 60% | $4,564 |
| 50 | Illinois Eastern Comm. College–Wabash Vall. (IL)* | 4 | 7 | 5 | 73% | 17% | $28,243 | 58% | $3,810 |
| 51 | Montgomery County Community College (PA)* | 4 | 9 | 6 | 33% | 12% | $42,689 | 45% | $5,730 |
| 52 | Mesa Community College (AZ)* | 4 | 9 | 6 | 36% | 13% | $41,730 | 38% | $2,094 |
| 53 | College of the Canyons (CA)* | 4 | 7 | 6 | 34% | 11% | $48,010 | 40% | $1,154 |
| 54 | Shoreline Community College (WA)* | 3 | 5 | 6 | 39% | 34% | $46,308 | 54% | $3,802 |
| 55 | Cape Cod Community College (MA)* | 4 | 7 | 6 | 43% | 23% | $37,706 | 48% | $4,536 |
| 56 | Southern Arkansas University Tech (AR)* | 4 | 8 | 6 | 24% | 57% | $33,285 | 38% | $4,810 |
| 57 | Nassau Community College (NY)* | 4 | 7 | 6 | 25% | 25% | $45,840 | 46% | $5,632 |
| 58 | Pensacola State College (FL)* | 4 | 8 | 6 | 35% | 29% | $31,698 | 50% | $2,704 |
| 59 | Gateway Community College (AZ)* | 4 | 7 | 6 | 51% | 21% | $37,658 | 39% | $2,094 |
| 60 | Bellingham Technical College (WA)* | 3 | 5 | 4 | 55% | 54% | $44,526 | 48% | $3,461 |
| 61 | Hagerstown Community College (MD)* | 4 | 8 | 6 | 31% | 26% | $36,389 | 47% | $3,616 |
| 62 | Bellevue College (WA)* | 2 | 7 | 5 | 31% | 36% | $49,812 | 60% | $3,699 |
| 63 | University of Cincinatti–Clermont (OH)* | 4 | 6 | 5 | 27% | 25% | $49,652 | 52% | $5,316 |
| 64 | City College of San Francisco (CA)* | 3 | 7 | 6 | 59% | 14% | $41,634 | 45% | $1,598 |
| 65 | Sheridan College (WY)* | 4 | 8 | 5 | 34% | 22% | $36,558 | 56% | $3,120 |
| 66 | Skyline College (CA)* | 3 | 6 | 6 | 33% | 14% | $43,260 | 64% | $1,446 |
| 67 | Gateway Community College (CT)* | 3 | 8 | 6 | 40% | 19% | $36,960 | 59% | $4,316 |
| 68 | Miami Dade College (FL)* | 4 | 8 | 6 | 30% | 30% | $34,443 | 46% | $2,838 |
| 69 | Springfield Technical Community College (MA)* | 4 | 6 | 6 | 40% | 23% | $35,492 | 60% | $6,066 |
| 70 | Fashion Institute of Technology (NY)* | 3 | 6 | 4 | 22% | 44% | $50,250 | 66% | $7,463 |
| 71 | Illinois Eastern Community College–Frontier (IL)* | 4 | 7 | 5 | 52% | 33% | $30,054 | 53% | $3,810 |
| 72 | Milwaukee Area Technical College (WI)* | 4 | 8 | 6 | 53% | 29% | $33,259 | 36% | $4,491 |
| 73 | Nicolet Area Technical College (WI)* | 4 | 7 | 5 | 36% | 54% | $30,523 | 50% | $4,877 |
| 74 | CUNY Hostos Community College (NY)* | 4 | 8 | 5 | 41% | 24% | $36,289 | 52% | $5,208 |
| 75 | Oakton Community College (IL)* | 3 | 7 | 6 | 38% | 16% | $40,976 | 60% | $3,985 |
| 76 | Suffolk County Community College (NY)* | 4 | 7 | 6 | 20% | 20% | $42,742 | 54% | $5,600 |
| 77 | Westmoreland County Community College (PA)* | 4 | 9 | 6 | 32% | 20% | $33,692 | 49% | $5,190 |
| 78 | Northampton County Community College (PA)* | 4 | 8 | 6 | 32% | 18% | $36,192 | 50% | $4,230 |
| 79 | Erie Community College (NY)* | 4 | 9 | 6 | 32% | 22% | $36,490 | 43% | $5,575 |
| 80 | Peirce College (PA) | 4 | 7 | 2 | 78% | 34% | $52,602 | 42% | $15,060 |
| 81 | CUNY NYC College of Technology (NY)* | 3 | 7 | 6 | 28% | 27% | $48,197 | 51% | $6,920 |
| 82 | Northwest Florida State College (FL)* | 4 | 7 | 6 | 36% | 29% | $34,346 | 47% | $3,133 |
| 83 | Santa Rosa Junior College (CA)* | 3 | 6 | 6 | 39% | 23% | $43,437 | 51% | $1,282 |
| 84 | Delgado Community College (LA)* | 3 | 8 | 6 | 52% | 21% | $34,371 | 52% | $4,079 |
| 85 | Central Texas College (TX)* | 4 | 8 | 6 | 54% | 10% | $36,365 | 39% | $2,700 |
| 86 | Normandale Community College (MN)* | 4 | 7 | 6 | 26% | 15% | $44,403 | 50% | $5,790 |
| 87 | Spokane Community College (WA)* | 2 | 8 | 6 | 69% | 39% | $36,382 | 36% | $3,460 |
| 88 | Moraine Park Technical College (WI)* | 3 | 8 | 4 | 62% | 34% | $36,323 | 51% | $4,461 |
| 89 | Portland Community College (OR)* | 4 | 6 | 6 | 49% | 14% | $41,069 | 44% | $4,088 |
| 90 | Tacoma Community College (WA)* | 4 | 5 | 6 | 45% | 35% | $40,284 | 40% | $4,146 |
| 91 | Quinsigamond Community College (MA)* | 3 | 8 | 5 | 39% | 26% | $39,673 | 58% | $5,538 |
| 92 | Pennsylvania College of Technology (PA)* | 4 | 9 | 6 | 19% | 34% | $42,065 | 48% | $16,350 |
| 93 | Florida State College–Jacksonville (FL)* | 3 | 8 | 6 | 43% | 34% | $36,214 | 41% | $2,657 |
| 94 | College of DuPage (IL)* | 3 | 9 | 6 | 34% | 19% | $40,326 | 47% | $4,050 |
| 95 | Ohlone College (CA)* | 4 | 7 | 5 | 32% | 11% | $48,321 | 42% | $1,162 |
| 96 | Saddleback College (CA)* | 3 | 6 | 6 | 35% | 16% | $45,891 | 53% | $1,328 |
| 97 | Bristol Community College (MA)* | 3 | 9 | 6 | 36% | 24% | $33,065 | 55% | $4,656 |
| 98 | Broward College (FL)* | 3 | 8 | 6 | 35% | 30% | $39,172 | 44% | $2,830 |
| 99 | Whatcom Community College (WA)* | 3 | 8 | 6 | 26% | 39% | $36,298 | 50% | $4,460 |
| 100 | Lake Superior College (MN)* | 4 | 5 | 6 | 34% | 39% | $38,840 | 47% | $5,153 |