KCC ranked No. 1 community college in Michigan by WalletHub
BATTLE CREEK — Kellogg Community College is the No. 1 community college in Michigan, according to new rankings from WalletHub.
The personal finance company released its list of “2023’s Best & Worst Community Colleges” on Aug. 15, awarding KCC the top spot in the mitten state based on 19 key metrics, including the cost of in-state tuition and fees, student-faculty ratio and graduation rate, among others.
KCC also ranked among the top 5% of community colleges in the U.S., coming in at 33rd nationwide out of a sample of 668 community colleges.
"The WalletHub report affirms what our community already knows about Kellogg Community College: KCC is the most accessible and affordable option for area students looking to pursue higher education, a fact further evidenced by data that shows more high school graduates in Barry, Branch and Calhoun counties choose KCC than any other college or university in the state," KCC officials said in a statement.
WalletHub created the list to provide prospective students with an at-a-glance comparison of the quality and affordability of various institutions, “to determine where students can receive the best education at the lowest price.”
During the 2022-23 academic year, tuition and fees for full-time, in-state enrollment at a public two-year college averaged $3,860 per year versus $10,950 at a public four-year institution and $39,400 at a four-year private school.
"Students who earn their general-education credits at a community college before transferring to an in-state public four-year university can potentially save a lot of money,” WalletHub officials said in the report. “Other than serving as an affordable, and in some cases free, option for education, community colleges have a number of attractive qualities. They often provide more flexible schedules, smaller class sizes and rigorous coursework. Some even go beyond two-year programs to offer four-year bachelor’s degrees. These qualities appeal especially to students who need to balance their studies with other commitments, such as family and work.”
The full list of rankings is available at wallethub.com.
KCC welcomes back students for the first day of the fall semester Monday.
Contact reporter Greyson Steele at gsteele@battlecreekenquirer.com
This article originally appeared on Battle Creek Enquirer: KCC ranked No. 1 community college in Michigan by WalletHub
