College of the Canyons was ranked among the top 50 best U.S. colleges for adult learners in Washington Monthly magazine’s ranking of “Best Two-Year Colleges for Adult Learners.”

Out of the 11 California community colleges that made the list, COC ranks as No. 1 in Southern California and No. 43 nationally.

Citing a lack of college rankings for adult students—defined as students who are over the age of 25—Washington Monthly analyzed data from 1,088 two-year colleges to create its list of the top 100 two-year colleges in the nation.

“It is an honor to be included among the top two-year colleges that provide a wide array of services for adult students,” said COC Chancellor Dr. Dianne G. Van Hook. “College of the Canyons is proud of its history of energetically acting on our commitment to support adult students by offering flexible programs and the resources that will help them to overcome obstacles and achieve their academic goals.”

At the time of the ranking, students age 25 and older made up 32 percent of COC’s student population in 2016-17.

Washington Monthly analyzed data from the College Board’s Annual Survey of Colleges, Department of Education’s Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System survey, as well as the department’s College Scorecard database to rank colleges using the following eight metrics:

* Ease of transfer/enrollment
* Flexibility of programs
* Services available for adult students
* The percentage of adult students at the college
* Graduation rates of part-time students
* Mean earnings of adult students ten years after entering college
* Loan repayment rates of adult students five years after entering repayment
* Tuition and fees for in-district students

On a scale of 19 possible points, COC scored 17 points—4 out of 4 for ease of transfer, 7 out of 9 for flexibility of programs, and 6 out of 6 for adult student services.

A valuable resource for adult learners is the college’s Adult Reentry program, which helps new, returning, and continuing adult students who are 25 years of age and older. Reentering students can benefit from information sessions, support groups, continuous advisement, as well as campus and community referrals.

Founded in 1969, Washington Monthly is a bi-monthly nonprofit magazine devoted to U.S. government and politics based in Washington, D.C. The magazine’s complete rankings appear in its September/October 2018 issue, which is available online.