North Central Michigan College is the No. 1 community college in Northern Michigan, according to new rankings from personal finance company Wallethub.

Wallethub released its list of “2023’s Best & Worst Community Colleges,” on August 15, with North Central landing as the top community college in Northern Michigan based on 19 indicators of cost and quality, including in-state tuition cost, student-faculty ratio, and graduation rate. North Central’s in-district tuition rate is $144 per contact hour, its student-faculty ratio is 15:1, and its graduation rate is 27%, No. 6 among Michigan’s 31 public community colleges.

“Wallethub’s report is yet another confirmation that quality and affordability go hand-in-hand at NCMC,” said President David Roland Finley. “A North Central degree is a smart investment, and we’re proud to keep exceptional, accessible education at the heart of what we do.”

In 2022—2023, tuition and fees for full-time, in-state enrollment at a public two-year college averaged $3,860 per year, versus $10,950 at a public four-year institution and $39,400 at a four-year private school, according to Wallethub.

“Other than serving as an affordable, and in some cases free, option for education, community colleges have a number of attractive qualities. They often provide more flexible schedules, smaller class sizes and rigorous coursework,” the report said.

North Central ranks in the top third of community colleges nationwide, landing at No. 191 on Wallethub’s list of 668 colleges profiled.

“While we know the value of a North Central degree, what’s even more important is that our students know it, too,” Finley said, citing a second report, the 2023 Community College Survey of Student Engagement, which asked current NCMC students about their college experience: 97% said they would recommend North Central to a friend or family member.

Wallethub’s full list of “2023’s Best & Worst Community Colleges” is available at wallethub.com.

North Central’s fall semester starts on September 5. Students can register for classes through September 11.