News and Events

Alexandria College (ATCC) has once again been named the best community college in Minnesota and No. 10 in the nation in WalletHub's recently released 2026 Best & Worst Community Colleges rankings. ATCC also ranked among the top 10 nationally for Career Outcomes. 

WalletHub's annual study was released on August 11, 2026 and compared 613 community colleges across the U.S. in an effort to identify institutions that provide students with a high-quality education at an affordable cost. 

The rankings evaluate colleges across 18 measures grouped into three equally weighted categories: Cost & Financing, Education Outcomes, and Career Outcomes. Factors they consider include tuition cost, financial aid, student-faculty ratio, retention, graduation rate, student-loan default rate and graduate earnings. 

ATCC's positive rankings reflect strengths that go beyond affordability, particularly in preparing students for success after college. WalletHub's Career Outcomes category considers student-loan rates, median earnings after attending college, and the percentage of former students earning more than the average earnings of a high school graduate. 

According to President Michael Seymour, the college's strong performance reflects a campus-wide commitment to helping students persist and complete their educational goals. 

“Our message to students is simple: finish what you start,” said Seymour, who is in his eighth year as president. “Our early academic advising, intentional intervention, co-curricular engagement, and holistic support help students over the finish line. Then, our employers and transfer partners take it from there.” 

ATCC’s most recent federally reported data show a combined graduation and transfer rate of 78%, significantly higher than the national average of 51% for similar colleges. 

Career preparation is also a core component in many of the college's academic programs. Alexandria College has historically maintained a related job placement rate of 99.4%, meaning the vast majority of graduates entering the workforce find employment directly related to their area of study. Strong relationships with employers, hands-on instruction and programs aligned with workforce needs help connect students' education with opportunities after graduation. 

Alexandria College has consistently appeared among WalletHub's highest-ranked community colleges in recent years, including having earned Minnesota's top spot for five out of the past six years. This year's ranking placed ATCC among the top 2% of the 613 institutions evaluated nationwide.  

ATCC’s leadership, faculty, and staff continue to work diligently to support the success of students and positively represent the college in both the Alexandria Lakes Area and on a national level. 

To view WalletHub's complete 2026 Best & Worst Community Colleges rankings and methodology, visit WalletHub.com.