SAC Listed Among Best 20 Community Colleges in Texas

Announced earlier this week, San Antonio College officially joined an elite club of the “Best Community Colleges in Texas.” According to BestColleges.com, SAC has been named to the 2018 list which also includes Northwest Vista College, Palo Alto College, and St. Philip’s College. 

The rankings are based on key performance indicators including acceptance, retention, graduation, enrollment rates and loan default percentages as a measure of graduates’ success. This is the first year that four of the colleges within the Alamo Colleges District are included in this ranking. 

The data comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s National Center for Educational Statistics. It includes the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) and College Navigator.

“The excellence of the colleges of the Alamo Colleges is reflected in these rankings,” said Alamo Colleges District Chancellor Dr. Bruce Leslie. “This recognition is important in helping students to realize that they will receive a quality education at an affordable cost at our colleges that will prepare them for success,” he added. 

The Alamo Colleges District has seen a 244 percent increase in degrees and certificates awarded between FY 2005-06 and FY 2016-17. This record-setting progress in student completion is on track to exceed the state’s goals for increasing the number of residents with at least an associate degree or certificate. More than 80,000 students enroll at the colleges of the Alamo Colleges District annually to earn associate degrees or certifications or to earn credits that transfer to universities where they can complete a bachelor’s degree or higher.

At San Antonio College, nearly 20,000 students enroll each semester accounting for about 25 percent of the district’s entire enrollment. Over the past several years, completion rates have steadily increased hitting new records for graduation. Last year, SAC awarded more than 5,300 degrees/certificates and is poised to exceed that record again this year.  

“Being among the Top 20 Community Colleges in Texas is a great honor for SAC,” remarked Dr. Robert Vela. “The ranking is a testament to the faculty and staff’s commitment to student success and helps tell our story of SAC’s journey to excellence.” 

To learn more about SAC’s most recent accomplishments, visit www.alamo.edu/sac/Brags/. 

To view the full listing of Best Colleges in Texas, visit www.bestcolleges.com/features/best-colleges-in-texas/.

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