Mission College Named One of America’s Best Community Colleges by TIME and Statista

For Immediate Release

SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - Mission College has been named to the inaugural America’s Best Community Colleges list, compiled by TIME in partnership with Statista. The national ranking recognizes the top 250 public community colleges across the United States offering associate degree programs.

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To determine the inaugural list, TIME and Statista conducted an extensive Key Performance Indicator (KPI) analysis using federal datasets, including the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) and the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.

Founded in 1975 as part of the West Valley-Mission Community College District, Mission College serves nearly 10,000 students annually across Santa Clara, Sunnyvale, San Jose, Campbell, Cupertino, Los Gatos, Monte Sereno, and Saratoga.

The college offers more than 100 associate degrees, Associate Degrees for Transfer (ADTs), and career technical certificates designed for direct workforce entry and seamless four-year university transfer.

Institutions were benchmarked by TIME in partnership with Statista across five weighted dimensions where Mission College’s student-centered initiatives and outcomes stand out:

• Student Success Rate (30%): Graduation and transfer rates compared against national projections, alongside absolute graduation and transfer performance. Mission College maintains a 75.19% course success rate, outpacing the California state average of 70.9%—and an 86.17% retention rate, supported by targeted transfer partnerships and degree completion pathways.
• Graduates’ Earnings (30%): Median post-enrollment income at 6, 8, and 10 years, measured both in absolute terms and against projected benchmarks. Located in the heart of Silicon Valley, Mission College prepares graduates for high-wage careers through industry-aligned programs in nursing, computer information systems, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, robotics and mechatronics, fire science, and its newly launched Bachelor of Science in Emergency Services Administration.
• Return on Investment (20%): Value added to a graduate’s salary relative to the average high school graduate, weighed against the total cost of attendance. Mission College eliminates tuition costs for all residents within the West Valley-Mission Community College District service area, with 75% of students receiving financial aid alongside no-cost parking, free campus meals, and free childcare resources
• Diversity (10%): Student body and faculty diversity across race, ethnicity, and representation of students with disabilities. With 26% of students being the first in their families to attend college, Mission College has earned recognition as a Champion for Excellence in Placement and invests heavily in closing equity gaps through programs such as CalWORKs, DSPS, TRIO, EOPS, NextUp, and the Veterans Resource Center.
• Campus Resources (10%): Student-to-faculty ratio and core educational expenditures per student, anchored by personalized faculty mentorship, free in-person and online tutoring, and newly modernized learning environments including the Library & Learning Commons and advanced STEM and visual arts labs.

“Being recognized among the top 250 community colleges in the nation affirms what we see every day across our campus—students achieving their transfer, degree, and career goals with strong institutional support behind them,” said Dr. Seher Awan, President of Mission College. “Our employees remain deeply committed to removing financial barriers, fostering an inclusive learning environment, and delivering high-value pathways that transform lives and strengthen our regional workforce.”

Mission College has looked in recent years to remove financial barriers to higher education. Students living within the service area can attend college tuition-free.  In addition, the college offers services like free childcare, free healthcare, free parking, and more to support students journey toward success. Mission also provides free meals to our students.

"At Mission, we remove barriers so that there is nothing stopping you from pursuing your dreams and achieving your full potential," Awan said.

Mission College is also an HSI (Hispanic-Serving Institution) and an AANAPISI (Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institution) as equity is central to its mission.

Mission is dedicated to creating a campus where all students, especially those from historically underserved communities, are valued, supported, and empowered. Through intentional efforts, the college breaks down barriers, promotes inclusion, and fosters an environment committed to equity and social justice. 

Prospective students and community members can explore academic programs and campus facilities at Mission College’s upcoming Open House on Wednesday, December 2, 2026, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., or receive hands-on enrollment assistance at Destination Registration on Saturday, January 16, 2027, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Class registration for the 2027 Winter and Spring terms is currently open, with Winter Term beginning January 4, 2027, and Spring Term beginning January 30, 2027.

About TIME and Statista

TIME is a global media brand with over a century of editorial authority, reaching more than 100 million readers worldwide and partnering with research firms to recognize institutional excellence across education and business.

Statista is a leading global data and business intelligence platform that conducts independent market research and statistical modeling, partnering with major media outlets like TIME to benchmark organizations using verified public datasets.

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Benjamin Demers
Director of Marketing and Public Relations
[email protected]