Valencia College was named one of the top 50 two-year colleges in the United States, according to Washington Monthly’s 2013 College Guide and Rankings.
The rankings and guide were guest-edited by Kevin Carey, who is director of the New America Foundation’s Education Policy Program.
Valencia was one of five Florida state colleges in the rankings. The others were: North Florida Community College, Chipola College, Miami-Dade College and South Florida State College.
“We designed the Washington Monthly college rankings to embody the American higher education compact at the institutional level,” the editors of Washington Monthly noted. “Instead of lauding colleges for closing their doors to all but an elite few, we give high marks to institutions that enroll low-income students, help them graduate and don’t charge them an arm and a leg to attend.”
The rankings provide an alternative to the U.S. News & World Report rankings, which often prioritize high-status schools. The Washington Monthly rankings are designed differently: they rate institutions according to their ability to improve social mobility, reduce costs imposed on students, produce quality research, and promote public service.
In 2011-12, Valencia College won the inaugural Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence, and was named the top community college in the nation.
Click on this link to see the Washington Monthly’s 2013 rankings of community colleges.
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