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Holmes Community College was recently named Mississippi’s Best Community College by Stacker on its list of “Best Community College in Every State.” Offering an accessible education that helps students prepare for promising careers, Holmes was ranked for standing out in both quality and affordability.
Stacker looked at data from Niche’s 2020 Best Community Colleges in America report to compile this list of the top 100 community colleges in America. Ranking is based on a rigorous analysis of academic, financial and student life data from the U.S. Department of Education along with millions of reviews from students and alumni.
“On behalf of our institution, we are thrilled to be recognized as the best community college in Mississippi,” said Holmes President Dr. Jim Haffey. “At Holmes, we are proud to provide a quality, affordable education with some of the best instructors and staff members in the state. We are continually working to add new programs, update our facilities and find ways to offer students the most advanced technology/updated equipment possible to enhance their learning experience.”
A multi-campus institution, Holmes offers the Associate of Arts degree, Associate of Applied Science degree, technical and career certificates and workforce training. The college now offers more than 50 academic majors, approximately 30 professional programs and a variety of student support services. Holmes is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
Holmes is part of the Mississippi Virtual Community College (MSVCC) and offers classes via the Internet platform Canvas. Courses are offered both by Holmes instructors and through other instructors in the MSVCC. Although several options are offered, including regular semester courses, four-week courses, and eight-week courses, the eLearning Department offers to customize schedules for interested students if they do not see a class they need. Currently, Holmes offers 48 online programs, and is offering 18 courses during an online Winter Session Nov. 30 through Dec. 23.
Holmes’ low student-to-faculty ratio and affordability make the college accessible to many, as well. Currently, 91 percent of students at Holmes receive financial aid. The Office of Financial Aid administers a variety of programs to assist in meeting student financial needs, including Federal and State financial aid programs, student loans, state scholarships and Federal Work-Study.
Additionally, this is not the institution’s first time to be recognized for excellence. Mississippi Business Journal named Holmes as a finalist for the “Best Two-Year College” in Mississippi, ranking the college second in the state in 2019. Holmes also ranked #2 for Best Online Associate in Psychology Program by TheBestSchools.org two years in a row and was ranked #2 for Best Online Community Colleges in Mississippi by Optimal’s Guide to Online Schools, just to name a few accolades.
To check out Stacker’s complete listing of the best community colleges in every state, visit https://stacker.com/stories/3063/best-community-college-every-state.
For more information about Holmes, visit www.holmescc.edu.