WSCC earns top 50 community college recognition

Learn.org has published its 2019 rankings for the top community colleges in the country, and West Shore Community College has been ranked #49 on the list of 50 colleges.

To compile and select the list, Learn.org considered hundreds of community colleges across the country and chose WSCC based on academic and career resources, the quality of education, faculty, and more. WSCC was the only Michigan community college to make the list.

Several other factors included school data reported by the U.S. Department of Education, the school’s program offerings, student services, and campus activities.

The listing states WSCC is located on a scenic campus and offers, “state-of-the-art technology to help you prepare for a technically diverse world. You’ll learn in classrooms equipped with simulation equipment, up-to-date computer systems, and computer animation technology. Transfer and career-ready degrees and certificates are offered here in areas like the humanities, math, manufacturing, allied health, and computer science. You can earn a degree on campus, pursue a hybrid program, or earn your degree fully online to suit your academic needs.”

WSCC President Scott Ward said, “We are grateful to be recognized and know our college provides a quality education. Student success is at the core of our mission and our faculty and staff take great pride in providing personal attention to our students providing them a superb foundation to be successful upon entering the workforce or any four-year college. This recognition would not be possible without the strong support we receive from the communities we serve. I believe this recognition says as much about our communities as it does about WSCC.”

He added, “As I witness the excellent, innovative, and often unique work being performed across the state by our community college colleagues, I am humbled WSCC was the only Michigan community college on the list as all 28 are exceptional institutions.”

Many of the schools on the 50 best community colleges in the nation list offer degrees in popular areas such as business, nursing, and education, while some offer unique partnership options, giving students the chance to earn a bachelor’s or master’s degree without transferring to a new college.

In 2017, WSCC achieved an overall number six ranking among the best of the 28 community colleges in Michigan by Schools.com.

WSCC was recognized for having one of the lowest average net prices annually among Michigan’s community colleges as calculated by the typical amount students pay once financial aid is applied to their overall cost.

The student-teacher ratio was one of the factors the report also took into account. WSCC has an average 13 students per teacher, which is slightly lower than the national average for community colleges, and much lower than the average 21 students per teacher found in four-year universities.

Both rankings used data points from the National Center for Education Statistics, the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, and the Michigan Center for Educational Performance and Information.

According to the American Association of Community Colleges, the 1132+ community colleges in the U.S. enroll nearly half of all undergraduates in the U.S.—just over 13 million students. Michigan’s community colleges enroll more than 410,000 students.

Learn.org and Schools.com are comprehensive online resources to research and locate accredited colleges, universities and online schools. To view the entire top community college listing, follow: Learn.org’s Top Community Colleges or https://www.schools.com/community-colleges/top-community-colleges-in-michigan

To learn more about WSCC, contact the Office of Student Services or visit the web site, www.westshore.edu.