AMERICUS — South Georgia Technical College (SGTC) has been ranked as the third best community college in the nation for 2017 based on quality and affordability by AffordableColleges.com recently.  South Georgia Technical College earned the top spot as the Best Community College in Georgia for 2017 twice this year by Best Colleges and Niche 2017 and is now listed as the third best community college in the nation. The AffordableColleges.com rankings can be viewed at http://www.affordablecolleges.com/rankings/community-colleges/.
“South Georgia Technical College has a tremendous reputation for providing an outstanding two-year education that prepares students for the workforce,” said SGTC President John Watford, Ed.D. “We are very pleased that AffordableColleges.com has ranked us as the number three community college in the nation for 2017. Earlier this year, Best Colleges and Niche recognized the outstanding accomplishments of South Georgia Technical College in Georgia and now we are listed as one of the top three in the nation. This is a testament to the faculty, staff, and students at South Georgia Tech. Being recognized with a top honor, not just once or twice, but three times in the same year, provides validation about the quality and excellence in technical education that we provide.”
AffordableColleges.com is a website that rigorously analyzes data from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), which is run by the U.S. Department of Education. AffordableColleges.com assigns each college a value score that weighs criteria, such as loan default rates, graduation rates, and financial aid data, to draw a distinction between the programs that appear cheap up-front and those that will pay off in the long run. IPEDS data offers reliable and accurate insight into affordability, academic pedigree, and online/distance learning programs. The closer a college is to a 10 ranking, the more value it offers its students.
Coffeyville Community College in Kansas was the top ranked community college in the nation with a value score of 8.07. It offers a variety of associate degrees at an affordable price and its programs span across 19 different disciplines. New Mexico Military Institute was the second highest ranked community college with a value score of 8.02. It combines high school and community college experience and the average tuition is $1,571.
SGTC in Americus and Cordele was listed in the number three spot in the nation with a value score of 7.99. The college’s associate of applied science degrees and other programs prepare students for positions ranging from industrial electrician to accounting and aircraft assembly technician. The college’s programs related to aviation maintenance and aircraft technology are among the most renowned and popular at the college, which originated as a training base for U.S. Army pilots in 1917. The college offers over 200 associate degree, diploma and technical certificates of credit.
The nearly 2,800 students enrolled in classes at South Georgia Tech pay $89 per credit hour for tuition and those who live on campus pay an additional $2,500 for housing and food, a very economical cost of living in comparison to residence hall rates at many other colleges.
SGTC was one of seven technical colleges from the Technical College System of Georgia listed in the ratings.
“Choosing to pursue a degree is one of the biggest financial decisions you’ll ever make, which is why many students turn to community colleges,” said AffordableColleges.com. “According to the American Association of Community Colleges, the average yearling cost of tuition and fees for community college students in the U.S. is $3,347, compared to an average cost of $9,139 at four-year institutions.
“Tuition aside, community colleges offer several benefits.  If you choose to continue your education after completing a two-year associate program, you can earn credits towards a bachelor’s degree and transfer to a four-year institution. Not only is this one of the most economical routes to a four-year degree, but the flexibility accommodates learners with a wide range of needs and backgrounds. This includes students resuming studies after time away from college, part-time students who have full-time jobs or families, or even high school students,” revealed AffordableColleges.com.
“South Georgia Technical College is an excellent choice for an individual that is interested in finding the career of a lifetime. We offer over 200 different associate degree, diploma, or technical certificate of credit programs that individuals can choose from,” said Watford. “We also have a near perfect job placement rating for our graduates.”
Partnerships with industry leaders such as Caterpillar, John Deere, Georgia Power, MetroPower, Kauffman Tire, and others have helped the college to earn world-wide recognition in graduating students while also taking advantage of the complete college experience including on-campus housing, a full-service cafeteria, men’s and women’s basketball, intramural sports, and clubs and student organizations.  The college also highlights particularly successful students through its Student of Excellence program and by participation in the Georgia Occupational Award of Leadership (GOAL) program.