The 20 best community colleges in the US to jump-start a successful career

• Transferring to a four-year university from community college may save thousands of dollars. Four-year university grads tend to earn more money on average compared to all workers.
• Student Loan Hero analyzed the 20 community colleges that offer students a quality education, plus the ability to easily transfer to four-year schools.
• Here are the 20 best community colleges for transferring.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

University tuition is more expensive than ever, and many families are saving money by sending kids to community college before transferring to a four-year school.

Students can save thousands of dollars if they make sure to take coursework that transfers to a university (and they don't exceed federal financial-aid time limits), according to US News. While 64% of jobs in 2026 will require no education beyond high school, four-year college grads still earn more than all workers.

Any dollar saved goes a long way, as the cost of undergraduate degrees rose by 213% for public schools and 129% for private schools, adjusting for inflation, as reported by Business Insider's Hillary Hoffower. More students have taken out loans to make up for rising college costs, resulting in a $1.5 trillion student debt deficit in the US.

For students looking to start at community college and get a four-year degree down the line, Student Loan Hero analyzed 20 top-notch two-year schools where the most students transfer out. The ranking looks at both how many students transfer out of the school, plus how many students earn degrees that can be used for credit at four-year schools.

"These community colleges were the very best we found at preparing their students for the next step, whether that's transferring to a four-year school or turning an associate's degree into a budding career," Student Loan Hero senior writer Andrew Pentis wrote.

Here are the 20 best community colleges for transferring to a four-year school.