State Technical College of Missouri was recently ranked as the fourth best community college in the nation.
The ranking is part of a Value Colleges article, titled "Top 50 Best Community Colleges for 2021."
The schools on the list were selected because of "student satisfaction, including scores from WalletHub and Niche, and ranked by their overall value - tuition cost, reputation, and average graduate salary."
The data comes from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System, according to the article.
Value Colleges creates "numerical rankings of institutions and degree programs to help college-bound readers choose financially responsible paths," according to its website.
State Tech has a 99 percent job placement rate, more than 500 industry partnerships and the number one graduation rate in Missouri, according to the article.
State Tech was the highest ranked Midwest college. Half of the top 10 colleges are in California, "potentially a result of high wages in California," State Tech President Shawn Strong noted in a State Tech news release.
"I wonder if cost of living was included in the ranking calculation we would have rose to the top spot?" he said in the news release. "Top five in the country is still very good, and we appreciate the Value Colleges recognition."
This newest national ranking comes after State Tech was ranked the best college in the country by WalletHub in 2019 and 2020.
State Tech was also ranked the fourth best two-year college in the nation by Brookings in 2020 and the third best trade school in the nation by Forbes Magazine in 2018.
Strong said he suggests those who are considering attending State Tech submit an application as soon as possible.
"We are 96 percent full and expect to set another enrollment record this fall," he said in the news release.