The College of Southern Maryland (CSM) has been ranked as the 57th best community college in the United States out of 653, according to a new report by WalletHub released on August 13. The ranking is based on 18 metrics that measure cost, quality, and outcomes, highlighting CSM’s robust performance amidst intense national competition.
WalletHub’s analysis includes various factors such as in-state tuition costs, student-faculty ratios, and graduation rates, with each college scored on a 100-point scale. CSM’s score of 64.01 places it significantly above many of its peers, although behind Manhattan Area Technical College in Kansas, which leads the nation with a score of 70.63.
Dr. Yolanda Wilson, President of CSM, expressed pride in the results, “We are delighted with the findings of WalletHub’s latest community college rankings, quantifying what we already know – that Maryland community colleges are the best in the nation. We know that CSM offers an outstanding educational foundation for students, enabling them on pathways to possibility and success.”
The report also recognized Maryland as having the best community college system in the country, with CSM ranking 8th among the state’s 16 community colleges. This recognition comes as CSM launches a new five-year strategic plan, ‘Built for Success,’ aimed at further enhancing student success and academic excellence.
WalletHub’s study underlines the value proposition of community colleges, particularly in terms of affordability. For the 2023 to 2024 academic year, the average tuition and fees for full-time, in-state students at public two-year colleges are $3,990, compared to $11,260 at public four-year institutions and $41,540 at private four-year universities.
In addition to affordability, community colleges are lauded for their flexible scheduling, small class sizes, and rigorous courses. They play a crucial role in higher education by minimizing costs while maximizing educational outcomes, which includes high retention and graduation rates.
Cassandra Happe, a WalletHub analyst, emphasized the holistic benefits of top community colleges. “The best colleges help their students even post-graduation by offering employment services to help them find jobs with good salaries. Many of the best community colleges realize school isn’t the only place people learn, so they offer credit for life experiences,” she explained.
For more information on CSM, visit their website at https://www.csmd.edu/index.html. Details on WalletHub’s rankings can be found at https://wallethub.com/edu/e/best-worst-community-colleges/15076.
