A new study suggests that Californians seeking associate degrees have several viable options to consider.
WalletHub reviewed 653 institutions from the American Association of Community Colleges based on cost and financing, education outcomes, and employment outcomes.
After constructing the dimensions using 18 total metrics assessed on a 100-point scale, researchers calculated each school’s overall score by taking the weighted average of all measures.
According to WalletHub, Maryland has the greatest community colleges in America, with five ranked among the top 45 overall. New Mexico, Connecticut, Wyoming, and Oregon complete the list of the top five states for community colleges.
According to the WalletHub research, California’s statewide community college system is the 17th best in the United States, trailing only New York and ahead of Tennessee.
The study examined 77 individual two-year institutions across the state and discovered that, according to WalletHub’s measures, the best community college in California is located in Southern California: Irvine Valley College, which had a score of 67.48 out of 100.
Following Irvine Valley College is College of San Mateo (66.9/100); Moreno Valley College (66.48); De Anza College (66.4) and Saddleback College (66.36).
For reference, the institution WalletHub found to be the “best” community college in America – Manhattan Area Technical College in Manhattan, Kansas – finished with a score of 70.63 out of 100.
A list of California’s top 77 community colleges can be viewed below:
| Rank | Community college | Location | Score (out of 100) |
| 1. | Irvine Valley College | Irvine | 67.48 |
| 2. | College of San Mateo | San Mateo | 66.90 |
| 3. | Moreno Valley College | Moreno Valley | 66.48 |
| 4. | De Anza College | Cupertino | 66.40 |
| 5. | Saddleback College | Mission Viejo | 66.36 |
| 6. | Santa Rosa Junior College | Santa Rosa | 66.23 |
| 7. | Norco College | Norco | 65.35 |
| 8. | Evergreen Valley College | San Jose | 64.97 |
| 9. | West Hills College-Lemoore | Lemoore | 64.19 |
| 10. | Orange Coast College | Costa Mesa | 64.16 |
| 11. | Golden West College | Huntington Beach | 64.12 |
| 12. | Pasadena City College | Pasadena | 64.11 |
| 13. | L.A. Harbor College | Los Angeles (Wilmington) | 63.97 |
| 14. | L.A. Pierce College | Los Angeles (Woodland Hills) | 63.71 |
| 15. | San Jose City College | San Jose | 63.46 |
| 16. | Riverside City College | Riverside | 63.16 |
| 17. | Butte College | Oroville | 62.70 |
| 18. | Ohlone College | Fremont | 62.30 |
| 19. | Cerritos College | Norwalk | 62.00 |
| 20. | Sierra College | Rocklin | 61.93 |
| 21. | Reedley College | Reedley | 61.84 |
| 22. | College of the Siskiyous | Weed | 61.62 |
| 23. | Las Positas College | Livermore | 61.28 |
| 24. | Palomar College | San Marcos | 60.90 |
| 25. | Coastline Community College (3 campuses) | Garden Grove, Westminster, Newport Beach | 60.37 |
| 26. | Moorpark College | Moorpark | 60.29 |
| 27. | L.A. Mission College | Los Angeles (Sylmar) | 60.20 |
| 28. | L.A. Southwest College | Los Angeles (West Athens) | 59.98 |
| 29. | City College of San Francisco | San Francisco | 59.91 |
| 30. | Chaffey College | Rancho Cucamonga | 59.60 |
| 31. | Lassen Community College | Susanville | 59.56 |
| 32. | College of Marin | Kentfield | 59.54 |
| 33. | Mt. San Antonio College | Walnut | 59.52 |
| 34. | Glendale Community College | Glendale | 59.39 |
| 35. | College of the Sequoias | Visalia | 59.38 |
| 36. | Diablo Valley College | Pleasant Hill | 58.84 |
| 37. | College of the Desert | Palm Desert | 58.55 |
| 38. | Citrus College | Glendora | 58.42 |
| 39. | L.A. Trade Tech College | Los Angeles (Downtown) | 58.17 |
| 40. | Contra Costa College | San Pablo | 57.73 |
| 41. | Fullerton College | Fullerton | 57.73 |
| 42. | West Hills College-Coalinga | Coalinga | 57.71 |
| 43. | Ventura College | Ventura | 57.65 |
| 44. | L.A. Valley College | Los Angeles (Valley Glen) | 57.53 |
| 45. | Mt. San Jacinto Community College District | San Jacinto, Menifee | 57.50 |
| 46. | Los Medanos College | Pittsburg | 57.43 |
| 47. | San Diego Miramar College | San Diego | 57.35 |
| 48. | San Joaquin Delta College | Stockton | 57.34 |
| 49. | Grossmont College | El Cajon | 57.31 |
| 50. | College of Alameda | Alameda | 57.09 |
| 51. | Woodland Community College | Woodland | 56.91 |
| 52. | Fresno City College | Fresno | 56.87 |
| 53. | L.A. City College | Los Angeles (East Hollywood) | 56.68 |
| 54. | Yuba College | Marysville | 56.33 |
| 55. | Imperial Valley College | Imperial | 55.93 |
| 56. | Barstow Community College | Barstow | 55.70 |
| 57. | Berkeley City College | Berkeley | 55.47 |
| 58. | Allan Hancock College | Santa Maria | 54.99 |
| 59. | Laney College | Oakland | 54.72 |
| 60. | East Los Angeles College | Monterey Park | 54.43 |
| 61. | San Bernardino Valley College | San Bernardino | 54.33 |
| 62. | Porterville College | Porterville | 53.63 |
| 63. | Cuyamaca College | El Cajon | 53.62 |
| 64. | San Diego City College | San Diego | 53.54 |
| 65. | Sacramento City College | Sacramento | 53.35 |
| 66. | Folsom Lake College | Folsom | 52.44 |
| 67. | Columbia College-California | Sonora | 52.41 |
| 68. | Cosumnes River College | Sacramento | 52.37 |
| 69. | Long Beach City College | Long Beach | 51.97 |
| 70. | American River College | Sacramento | 51.78 |
| 71. | Taft College | Taft | 50.86 |
| 72. | Cerro Coso Community College | Ridgecrest | 50.80 |
| 73. | Oxnard College | Oxnard | 50.61 |
| 74. | Compton College | Compton | 49.91 |
| 75. | El Camino Community College District | Torrance | 49.27 |
| 76. | Victor Valley College | Victorville | 47.19 |
| 77. | Palo Verde College | Blythe | 44.76 |
The full WalletHub study, including the full list of 653 best community colleges in the country, click here.