Southwest Mississippi Community College has been ranked by Niche as the top community college in the state and one of the best in the entire country.
The education ranking and review site placed SMCC at No. 6 on its list of “2026 Best Community Colleges,” giving the two-year school in Summit an overall A- grade. Aspects taken into consideration were academics, cost, student life, student and alumni reviews, and public safety.
“This is not the first time SMCC has achieved this distinction — our college has been recognized multiple times for excellence at both the state and national levels. These repeated honors reflect SMCC’s ongoing commitment to providing high-quality, affordable education,” a statement from SMCC reads.
SMCC was the only in-state school to crack Niche’s top 25 with East Mississippi Community College landing at No. 29 and Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College at No. 49.
Schools nationally that ranked higher than SMCC were Randolph Community College in Asheboro, N.C., at No. 5; Las Positas College in Livermore, Calif., at No. 4; Collins Career Technical Center in Chesapeake, Ohio, at No. 3; Indian Capital Technology Center in Muskogee, Oklahoma., at No. 2; and Foothill College in Los Altos Hills, Calif., at No. 1.
However, it is worth noting SMCC received the same A- grade as Randolph Community College and Las Positas College; it was other grading factors that separated the trio in the rankings.
The full list of “2026 Best Community Colleges in America” from Niche can be found here.
