Garden City Community College Named Best Community College in Kansas by Niche
[Garden City, KS] September 2, 2025 – Garden City Community College (GCCC) has been named the Best Community College in Kansas by Niche, the nation’s leading platform for connecting students with colleges. The recognition comes as part of Niche’s 2026 Best Colleges in America rankings, which are based on a rigorous analysis of academic, financial, and student life data from the U.S. Department of Education, as well as millions of reviews from students and alumni.
GCCC received an overall grade of B+, placing it among the top 33% of colleges nationwide and earning the highest grade of any community college in Kansas. The college stood out in key areas, earning top marks in Diversity (A), Value (B+), Safety (B+), and Student Life (B+), reflecting its commitment to an inclusive, high-quality, and engaging student experience.
In addition to being named the #1 Community College in Kansas, GCCC earned national recognition, ranking #69 out of 673 Best Community Colleges in America and #71 out of 406 Best Hispanic-Serving Institutions in America.
"This recognition affirms the exceptional work of our faculty, staff, and students who make Garden City Community College a place of opportunity and success,” said Dr. Ryan Ruda, President of Garden City Community College. “Being ranked the best community college in Kansas is not only a reflection of the quality of education we provide, but also of the inclusive, supportive environment we strive to foster for all learners. At GCCC, our mission is to prepare students to achieve their goals and contribute meaningfully to their communities, and this ranking demonstrates that commitment in action."
Niche’s rankings combine data from the U.S. Department of Education with insights from student and alumni reviews, ratings, and survey responses. The goal is to provide prospective students and their families with transparent and meaningful insights into nearly 4,000 colleges nationwide.
"We built Niche to help students and families cut through the noise and make informed choices," said Luke Skurman, founder and CEO of Niche. "Our rankings reflect not just data, but the real voices and lived experiences of students across the country. That blend of insight is what makes Niche unique. We're giving students the clarity to identify the colleges where they see themselves belonging and succeeding."
For the complete rankings of Niche’s 2026 Best Colleges in America, visit niche.com/colleges/search/all-colleges/
About Niche
Niche is the market leader in connecting colleges and schools with students and families. Over 70 million people annually use Niche’s comprehensive school profiles, student and alumni reviews, data-driven rankings, and easy-to-use search tools to empower informed decision-making.
--
Garden City Community College exists to produce positive contributors to the economic and social well-being of society.