Carroll Named Best Community College in Maryland

Carroll Community College was named the best community college in Maryland — and ranked 10th nationwide — according to a 2021 survey conducted by College Consensus. This recognition is among other best community college in Maryland rankings for Carroll this year, including surveys by ValueColleges and Best Colleges. It also follows a #1 Best ranking in Maryland and #21 overall last year for community colleges by WalletHub in their survey “2020’s Best & Worst Community Colleges.”

“We are very pleased to receive recognition for our performance among our community college peers in the state and the nation,” said Dr. James D. Ball, President of Carroll Community College. “This ranking speaks volumes about the exceptional quality of our programs here in Carroll County and the dedicated faculty and staff who actively support students from initial contact through completion of their educational goals.”

College Consensus bases its analysis on three key metrics: cost, reputation and student outcomes. It uses publicly available data, such as the federal Integrated Post-Secondary Education Data System, in which Carroll scores consistently strong in student outcomes. In its analysis, College Consensus stated Carroll balances its wide variety of associate degree and certificate programs with the benefits of small class sizes, offering “an intimate learning environment” with “lots of room for personal attention.”

“One of our top priorities is to provide students with personalized support throughout their time at Carroll,” said Dr. Rosalie V. Mince, Provost of Carroll Community College.

College Consensus also noted that Carroll has a high rate of transfer to four-year institutions, stating “they have a 100 percent transfer guarantee to Maryland public universities and colleges.” BestColleges had previously praised Carroll Community College for providing its students with an advisor who “can customize their Arts and Science degree to meet their academic goals while preparing to transfer to a four-year university.”

Dr. Raza Khan, Chairperson of Sciences Division and Program Director of STEM Scholars at Carroll, says that he has heard from numerous colleagues from around the country. “They ask me about the ‘special success sauce’ and how they can get some. I tell them that it comes from how focused we are when it comes to student outcomes and how everyone at the College is vested in the College’s mission of empowering our learners for lifelong success.”