The top-ranked community college in New York State is the Stella and Charles Guttman Community College of The City University of New York, according to the 2016-2017 edition of Best Community Colleges.

Published by EDsmart, a nationally recognized publisher of college resources and rankings, the Best Community Colleges rankings compared outcomes from 121 New York State community colleges on retention, transfer and graduation rates, as well as net price to attend.

Founded just four years ago and located in Midtown Manhattan steps from Bryant Park, Guttman Community College offers associate degree programs as part of an innovative model with an emphasis on experiential education, the adoption of learning communities and instructional teams, and a strong value placed on being simultaneously “high tech” and “high touch.”

Guttman has achieved remarkable graduation rates for a new college. Fifty-one percent of its 2012 inaugural class have now earned their associate degrees, a metric significantly higher than the three-year national graduation rate at large city public two-year colleges.

“The distinction of being named the No. 1 community college in the state is a tremendous honor,” said CUNY Chancellor James B. Milliken. “It has been exciting to help support the college’s continued growth and success in demonstrating excellent outcomes for its students.  ‎We commend Guttman's faculty, staff and students for their outstanding record of achievement.”

Guttman President Scott E. Evenbeck said, “When we opened in fall 2012, we aspired to graduate 35% of our inaugural cohort in three years. To have exceeded this goal is a testament to the hard work of our students and the dedication of our faculty and staff. That we continue to realize outstanding retention and graduate rates confirms the effectiveness of our educational model to support students who have often been underserved by higher education.”

Guttman Community College’s annual tuition of $4,800 is highly affordable and offers tremendous value. Approximately 78% of students receive need-based financial aid, ensuring that a high-quality education is available to all.

The college provides a supportive environment that nurtures student success with the goal to increase the graduation rate for its students, many of whom are the first in their family to attend college. All students begin in the required Summer Bridge Program and engage full time in a city-centered, first-year experience before starting their major coursework in one of five degree programs. Instructional teams comprising faculty members, student success advocates, graduate coordinators, peer mentors and library staff create a rich classroom environment complemented by an integrated advisement program to help students stay on the path to graduation.

The City University of New York is the nation’s leading urban public university. Founded in New York City in 1847, the University comprises 25 institutions: 11 senior colleges, seven community colleges, the William E. Macaulay Honors College at CUNY, the CUNY School of Medicine, the CUNY Graduate School and University Center, the CUNY Graduate School of Journalism, the CUNY School of Law, the CUNY School of Professional Studies and the CUNY School of Public Health and Health Policy. The University serves more than 274,350 degree-seeking students and 260,000 adult and continuing education students. College Now, the University’s academic enrichment program, is offered at CUNY campuses and more than 300 high schools throughout the five boroughs of New York City. The University offers online baccalaureate and master’s degrees through the School of Professional Studies. (MORE)