Published on September 10, 2026 9:21 am
Last Updated on September 10, 2026 9:22 am
Lake Land College was recently named the number one community college in the nation in education outcomes, as reported in the 2026 Best & Worst Community Colleges study by the personal finance company WalletHub.
The study evaluated 613 community colleges across the nation, with education outcomes used as one of three key dimensions to measure institutional merit. By receiving the top ranking in the study for education outcomes, Lake Land College was recognized as the number one community college in the nation across several student success metrics, including first year retention rate, graduation rate, transfer rate and student-faculty ratio.
The WalletHub study also named Lake Land College the number one community college in Illinois, ranking it first among 30 statewide colleges. Along with the education outcomes criteria, this measurement analyzed two additional dimensions – cost & financing and career outcomes – using 18 key performance indicators to measure overall value, quality and long-term student success. In addition to the highest rating in Illinois, the same measurement ranked Lake Land College as the 62nd best college in the study, placing it among the top 10% of community colleges nationwide. Lake Land College President Josh Bullock noted that the strong performance throughout the study reflects Lake Land’s ongoing commitment to high-quality, affordable and accessible education.
“These findings reflect our dedication to provide educational pathways that fit and transform our students’ lives,” Bullock said. “We are pleased to see these efforts affirmed in this study, which only inspires us to continue to serve our students and communities with excellence. Congratulations to our board, faculty and staff for their leadership and devotion in making Lake Land College one of the nation’s best community colleges.”
The WalletHub rankings represent the latest of Lake Land College’s many national honors. Lake Land has consistently been named one of the nation’s top community colleges by the Aspen Institute College Excellence Program, with seven consecutive recognitions since 2013.
The full WalletHub study is available on the company’s website at WalletHub.com/edu/e/Best-Worst-Community-Colleges/15076.
Lake Land College offers a wide range of high-demand degrees and certificates in trade, tech and transfer-ready programs. To learn more or get started, visit the Lake Land College website at LakeLandCollege.edu.
