Submitted by South Puget Sound Community College
South Puget Sound Community College (SPSCC) has earned a spot in the top 50 community colleges in the nation, according to a recent ranking published by College Choice.
Listed as the 41st best community college for 2016-2017, SPSCC was awarded the ranking based on academic quality, diversity and equity, and return on investment. “We believe these fifty schools represent the best of what can be a wise decision for many prospective college students,” stated the article.
“Our school’s academic quality and integrity are driven by the standards created by and implemented through our dedicated full- and part-time faculty,” said SPSCC Vice President of Instruction Michelle Andreas. She added, “We are fortunate to have faculty who put student learning above all else.”
Courses are offered in nine broad areas of study with over 75 degrees and certificates available. Nearly 70% of the awards granted each year are associate degrees, most of which are fully-transferable to four-year institutions.
In addition to quality academic experiences, students can get involved with student leadership, clubs, athletics, and more, including the college’s Diversity and Equity Center (DEC).
“While we still have a long way to go in this area, we have developed processes and strategies that we believe will ensure that our graduates will mirror our community demographics, increase fall-to-fall retention, and improve our completion rates for underrepresented students,” stated SPSCC Chief Human Resource Officer Kennith Harden.
SPSCC enrolls over 6,000 students each quarter and offers two campus locations, as well as online and hybrid classes. With an open door admissions policy, SPSCC makes education for all people from all walks of life possible. A recent study performed by Emsi revealed that SPSCC offers an annual return on investment for students at 15.4% and returns more money to government budgets than it costs.
Data for the College Choice ranking was collected from the Aspen Institute, which awarded SPSCC a spot in the 150 best community colleges in the nation in 2016, and Payscale.
About College Choice
College Choice is the leading authority in college and university rankings, searches and resources dedicated to helping students and their families find the right college. The site publishes rankings and reviews that make finding the best colleges for different interests easier and more fun, as well as resources to help students get into, pay for, and thrive at the college of their choice.
