Two-year schools that offer associate degrees with at least 500 full-time enrollees were ranked based on full-time retention rate, student-to-faculty ratio, and in-state tuition and fees. Over 600 schools were assessed, and Louisiana Technical Community College in Minden, LA was ranked #10 in the country and #1 in Louisiana. 

Data for 616 two-year colleges that offer associate degrees and have at least 500 full-time enrollees were ranked based on the following metrics from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) for the 2022-2023 school year:

• Retention rate. This is the percentage of first-time students who return to the institution to continue their studies the following fall. 
• Cost of tuition and fees. This is the cost of tuition and fees for in-state students completing two semesters of coursework. 
• Student-to-faculty ratio. This is the number of students for every faculty member. This metric was given a half weight.

To read more about the study and its findings, visit https://smartasset.com/data-studies/best-community-colleges-2024.