The Optimal Guide to Online Schools is the latest education group to rate Santa Barbara City College among the top 10 best California community colleges to earn an online associate degree or certificate.
The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted higher education to an unprecedented extent. Many students are rethinking the traditional model of a brick-and-mortar education, considering instead the benefits and safety of pursuing an online degree. To assist students in finding the best option for their individual needs during this time, Optimal (formerly SR Education Group) recently released the 2020 Best Online Community College Rankings on Guide to Online Schools. The rankings include a nationwide best overall community college ranking, as well as 41 individual state rankings. Santa Barbara City College was ranked at number seven out of all California Community Colleges.
“More than ever, this recognition of the quality of our online programs is a source of pride for us,” commented Executive Vice President of Educational Programs Pamela Ralston. “It is a testament to the dedication of our faculty and staff to engage in continuous improvement of our course offerings, technology supports and student services. Especially now as we work to bring even more instruction online, SBCC faculty work to bring quality and personal engagement into our online offerings.”
Each community college was ranked by several important factors, including retention rate, graduation rate, percentage of online enrollment data, and the number of online associate degrees offered.
Community colleges with online programs offer an affordable option for students who want to begin their education path at home and bypass the unpredictability of what the fall semester may bring. Additionally, this choice can eliminate the financial strain of a four-year, on-campus degree at a traditional university, an important consideration as students face an uncertain economy. Earlier this year SBCC also received recognition for its online programs from Intelligent.com and Value Colleges.
SBCC’s 2020 Fall semester begins Monday, August 24. To see the Fall schedule of classes, go to sbcc.edu/classes. For more information about other awards and recognitions received by SBCC, go to: sbcc.edu/about/awards
