Wallet Hub
Adam McCann
August 11, 2026
University education is out of reach for many Americans, but thanks to community colleges, higher education is more accessible than ever. Compared with public four-year institutions, where tuition and fees cost almost three times as much on average, community colleges offer significant savings for students.
Despite the fact that community colleges can offer significant cost advantages, not every state offers schools of the same quality. WalletHub drew from its 2026 ranking of the Best and Worst Community Colleges to create a state-by-state ranking of community-college systems.