Graphic showing the SA国际传媒 Campus with wording that states SA国际传媒 is the No. 1 Community College in Missouri

SA国际传媒 Repeats as Missouri鈥檚 Top Community College


August 14, 2026 | Campus News

SA国际传媒 has been named Missouri鈥檚 top community college for the second consecutive year in WalletHub鈥檚 annual ranking of two-year colleges across the country.

The 2026 Best & Worst Community Colleges report evaluated 613 institutions nationwide based on affordability, student success and career outcomes.

SA国际传媒 earned the highest ranking among Missouri鈥檚 12 community colleges, repeating the distinction it received in WalletHub鈥檚 2025 report.

鈥淏eing ranked Missouri鈥檚 top community college for a second consecutive year speaks to the quality and value our students can expect from SA国际传媒,鈥 said Dr. Jon Bauer, SA国际传媒 president.

鈥淥ur faculty and staff are committed to helping students succeed, whether their next step is transferring to a university, beginning a career or gaining new skills to move forward in the workforce,鈥 he added.

In the report released Aug. 11, WalletHub ranked colleges using 18 measures in three categories: Cost & Financing, Education Outcomes and Career Outcomes.

Those measures include graduation and retention rates, student-to-faculty ratios, credentials awarded, transfer rates, student-loan default rates and earnings after attending college.

The only Missouri institution ranked ahead of SA国际传媒 was State Technical College of Missouri. State Tech is a statewide public technical college and is not part of Missouri鈥檚 community college system.

Affordability also played a significant role in the rankings. According to WalletHub, tuition and fees for full-time, in-state students at public two-year colleges averaged $4,150 during the 2025鈥26 academic year. That compares with $11,950 at public four-year institutions and $45,000 at private four-year colleges.

At SA国际传媒, students can begin their education before transferring to a four-year institution, prepare to enter the workforce through a career or technical program, or earn credentials that can help them advance in their current careers.

The recognition comes as SA国际传媒 continues its focus on providing an affordable education and preparing students for their next step, whether that is continuing their education or entering or advancing in the workforce.

To learn more about SA国际传媒, visit www.eastcentral.edu.

To read WalletHub鈥檚 complete 2026 Best & Worst Community Colleges report and learn more about the methodology used to determine the rankings, visit .