Find a Job You Really Want In
Choosing the right college is a significant decision that can greatly impact your career trajectory. One of the key considerations is the college’s job placement ratings, which have become increasingly important in today’s competitive job market.
In 2026, securing a job can still feel uncertain, even for graduates with degrees. This challenge is particularly pronounced for those pursuing two-year degrees, as these students often aim to enter the workforce quickly. Therefore, a college’s reputation for effectively placing its graduates in jobs is crucial in the selection process.
Not all community colleges provide equal support when it comes to job placement. Some institutions excel in assisting their graduates in finding employment. To highlight these exemplary colleges, we at Zippia have compiled a list of the top junior colleges by state based on their job placement ratings.
This list, along with the accompanying map, was created using data sourced from the
Below is a list of the top institutions, but first, here are the standout colleges:
- North Central Kansas Technical College
- Southeast Technical Institute
- Bowling Green State University-Firelands
- Northwest Iowa Community College
- Minneapolis Business College
- Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics
- Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture
- North Dakota State College of Science
- University of South Carolina-Lancaster
- Miles Community College
How We Determined the Rankings
Using data from IPEDS, we identified the college in each state with the highest job placement ratings, specifically focusing on employment levels ten years after graduation. In this article, “job placement ratings” refers to these employment statistics.
We utilized the Carnegie Classification to filter undergraduate colleges, including only those classified between 1 and 4. The schools included in our list met one of the following criteria:
- Two-year, higher part-time
- Two-year, mixed part/full-time
- Two-year, medium full-time
- Two-year, higher full-time
After ranking based on placement ratings, we rounded each school’s rating to three decimal places and included the city where each top college is located.
Curious if your college made the top ten? Continue reading for the full list.
1. North Central Kansas Technical College
Location: Beloit, KS
Placement Rate: 93.32%
College Description: Located in Beloit, Kansas, North Central Kansas Technical College specializes in high-tech careers, boasting an impressive job placement rate of 93.32%.
2. Southeast Technical Institute
Location: Sioux Falls, SD
Placement Rate: 92.88%
College Description: Southeast Technical Institute in Sioux Falls offers a variety of majors, including marketing, finance, and several technical fields, many available online, contributing to its high placement rate.
3. Bowling Green State University-Firelands
Location: Huron, OH
Placement Rate: 92.75%
College Description: This two-year institution offers diverse programs in business and applied sciences, including unique fields such as criminal justice and visual media.
4. Northwest Iowa Community College
Location: Sheldon, IA
Placement Rate: 92.51%
College Description: Offering a range of pre-professional and technical degrees, Northwest Iowa Community College focuses on health and technical fields.
5. Minneapolis Business College
Location: Roseville, MN
Placement Rate: 92.44%
College Description: This college offers a range of legal and technical majors and emphasizes quick degree completion, with many programs available in as little as 8 months.
6. Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics
Location: West Mifflin, PA
Placement Rate: 92.31%
College Description: Focusing on aviation technology, the Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics offers specialized courses in aviation repair and maintenance, as well as automotive and aerospace repair.
7. Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture
Location: Curtis, NE
Placement Rate: 92.28%
College Description: Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture not only offers technical courses but also provides comprehensive programs in animal and agricultural sciences, focusing on livestock and farming.
8. North Dakota State College of Science
Location: Wahpeton, ND
Placement Rate: 91.85%
College Description: This college offers an impressive array of majors, ranging from agriculture to robotics, ideal for students seeking diverse educational opportunities.
9. University of South Carolina-Lancaster
Location: Lancaster, SC
Placement Rate: 91.31%
College Description: USC-Lancaster primarily offers pre-baccalaureate programs, preparing students for transition to larger universities after completing their studies.
10. Miles Community College
Location: Miles City, MT
Placement Rate: 90.58%
College Description: Focusing on practical fields such as agriculture, nursing, and information technology, Miles Community College maintains a high placement rate above 90%.
Conclusion
Explore the full list of top junior colleges below to find the right fit for your career aspirations. If you’re a recent graduate looking for job opportunities, learn how to effectively leverage online resources to apply for jobs.
For more insights and articles like this, check out our guide on the best companies to work for in Charlotte, North Carolina.
| Rank | Institution Name | State Abbrev. |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | North Central Kansas Technical College | KS |
| 2 | Southeast Technical Institute | SD |
| 3 | Bowling Green State University-Firelands | OH |
| 4 | Northwest Iowa Community College | IA |
| 5 | Minneapolis Business College | MN |
| 6 | Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics | PA |
| 7 | Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture | NE |
| 8 | North Dakota State College of Science | ND |
| 9 | University of South Carolina-Lancaster | SC |
| 10 | Miles Community College | MT |
| 11 | Wyotech-Laramie | WY |
| 12 | Universal Technical Institute of Arizona Inc | AZ |
| 13 | Louisburg College | NC |
| 14 | Northeastern Junior College | CO |
| 15 | State Technical College of Missouri | MO |
| 16 | Mid-State Technical College | WI |
| 17 | NHTI-Concord’s Community College | NH |
| 18 | Eastern Maine Community College | ME |
| 19 | Fox College | IL |
| 20 | International Business College-Indianapolis | IN |
| 21 | Richard Bland College of William and Mary | VA |
| 22 | Fulton-Montgomery Community College | NY |
| 23 | Casa Loma College-Van Nuys | CA |
| 24 | Blinn College | TX |
| 25 | Vatterott College-Oklahoma City | OK |
| 26 | Vatterott College-Appling Farms | TN |
| 27 | Baton Rouge School of Computers | LA |
| 28 | ITT Technical Institute-Madison | MS |
| 29 | ITT Technical Institute-Marlton | NJ |
| 30 | ITT Technical Institute-Huntington | WV |
| 31 | Andrew College | GA |
| 32 | Capital Community College | CT |
| 33 | Spencerian College-Lexington | KY |
| 34 | Southern Union State Community College | AL |
| 35 | Delaware Technical Community College-Stanton/Wilmington | DE |
| 36 | Hagerstown Community College | MD |
| 37 | Gogebic Community College | MI |
| 38 | New Mexico State University-Dona Ana | NM |
| 39 | Quinsigamond Community College | MA |
| 40 | Tallahassee Community College | FL |
| 41 | Arkansas State University-Newport | AR |
| 42 | Eastern Idaho Technical College | ID |
| 43 | Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts-Las Vegas | NV |
| 44 | Community College of Rhode Island | RI |
| 45 | Heald College-Honolulu | HI |
| 46 | Heald College-Portland | OR |
| 47 | Fortis College-Salt Lake City | UT |
| 48 | Whatcom Community College | WA |
| 49 | Community College of Vermont | VT |
| 50 | AVTEC-Alaska’s Institute of Technology | AK |
Author
Ryan Morris was a writer for the Zippia Advice blog who tried to make the job process a little more entertaining for all those involved. He obtained his BA and Masters from Appalachian State University.
