VGCC ranked among best colleges in N.C. and most affordable online in U.S.
Vance-Granville Community College was recently recognized by BestColleges.com as one of the top five two-year colleges in North Carolina, and for offering one of the most affordable online associate degree programs in the country.
VGCC came in fifth on the new list , in which BestColleges.com ranked the top 25 two-year and top 25 four-year schools in North Carolina. The organization noted that it was no longer focused solely on universities. It now gives equal attention to community colleges that train students for careers or allow them to complete their general education courses before moving on to a four-year school.
“Our higher education experts reviewed nearly 90 two-year schools in the Tarheel State, and after taking into account key performance indicators such as retention, graduation and loan default rates, Vance-Granville Community College quickly rose to the top,” said Diana Walters, associate director of communications for BestColleges.com.
The BestColleges.com website notes that VGCC “offers a broad range of subjects.” The college, the authors write, believes “that learning should be flexible, so they provide access to the SmarThinking mobile tutoring platform, through which students have access to free support for subjects such as English, math, business, Spanish, science and nursing.” BestColleges.com went on to highlight VGCC’s technological resources for students, including the Moodle learning management system for online courses, software like Microsoft Office 365 , which is available to all students free of charge, and the college’s mobile app .
The organization’s school assessments start by regarding every college and university equally, no matter their size or brand popularity. Rankings are then determined based on acceptance, enrollment, retention, graduation and loan default rates. The last criterion is an indication of post-graduation employment, since those who have found work are less likely to default on their loans.
In a separate ranking , BestColleges.com reviewed over 500 schools across the United States that offer associate degree programs online for their affordability, and VGCC was ranked at number 11.
“Given rising tuition rates, it's no mystery that many students seriously consider cost before applying to college,” said Jessica Meyer of BestColleges.com. “For this reason, we've gone to great lengths to identify the most affordable online programs for our users. Considering factors such as tuition, loan origination, and loan default rates, VGCC has created a distance learning program within reach for students who want both flexibility and affordability.”
The website noted that VGCC uses the Moodle platform and that college staff created a “Moodle 101” training course to help students become familiar with the system. Recently, VGCC has also introduced an online new student orientation program.
“This national recognition for both quality and accessibility reflects the dedication and innovation of our faculty and staff,” said Dr. Stelfanie Williams, the president of VGCC. “Whether learning online or on-campus, Vance-Granville students receive an exemplary education that prepares them well for professional and personal success."
Texas-based BestColleges.com was founded in 2012 with the mission of helping prospective students find the college that best meets their needs. Visitors to BestColleges.com can find the tools and resources to succeed throughout their higher education career. Those in the college planning stage can take advantage of college rankings, a searchable database of schools, and financial planning guides.
