State Tech Ranked #1 College in the Nation by WalletHub for 26

Published on August 14, 2026

With the new fall semester starting in a few short weeks, the State Technical College of Missouri is proud to announce that we have been ranked the number one college in the nation by WalletHub (a personal finance website) for 2026, a ranking earned 7 out of the last 8 years.

“Convincingly keeping our spot as #1 in the country is a great way to start the new year.  It doesn’t get much better than the completion of two new buildings to open the fall semester, being named to the Top 25 by the Aspen Institute, and what we think will once again be record enrollment . The WalletHub ranking measures what we do best, graduating students and beginning rewarding careers. Being #5 in career outcomes, #3 in student outcomes is irrefutable evidence we are the best at what we do. It’s the laser focus by all employees living our mission of “Preparing Students for Profitable Employment and a Life of Learning” that results in achieving excellence year in and year out”, said State Tech President Dr. Shawn Strong. 

In their recent article titled “2026’s Best & Worst Community Colleges,” WalletHub ranked nearly 700 colleges across the country.  In determining its rankings, WalletHub considered a variety of factors broken down into three main categories. Career Outcomes, Education Outcomes and Cost & Financing were each assigned 33.33 points with subcategories weighed on a 10 point scale and State Tech graded out as the best overall college in the country!

According to WalletHub analyst Adam McCann, “The State Technical College of Missouri, located in Osage County, MO, is the best community college, in part because 90% of students stay with the school from the first year to the second year, the best retention rate in the country, and 79% of students graduate – the best graduation rate in the country. In addition, the school’s students receive the third-largest amount of grant or scholarship aid, at an average of $9,223 per student. This helps make it extremely unlikely that students will default on any loans they do have to take out. Lastly, the State Technical College of Missouri also offers credit for life experiences and provides employment services to students, which can help them graduate more quickly and obtain jobs sooner.”

What WalletHub measures aligns well with what we strive for at State Tech.  We graduate students and they earn high paying careers. We also have the best graduation rate in the entire country and continue to maintain an over 99% job placement rate.

Just weeks before the start of the new academic year, this ranking is a great way to kick things off and backs up why we like to say, “From the classroom to your career, we are The Employers’ Choice; we are State Tech”.

For additional information, please contact Brandon McElwain at 573-897-5351.