Moreno Valley College Ranked No. 1 Community College in Inland Empire for Third Consecutive Year

Moreno Valley College has again been named the No. 1 community college in the Inland Empire, according to WalletHub’s 2026 Best & Worst Community Colleges report. It is the third consecutive year the college has earned the top spot in the region.

The report evaluated 613 community colleges nationwide across 18 measures of cost and financing, education outcomes and career outcomes. Moreno Valley College ranked No. 7 in California and No. 35 nationally, while ranking No. 7 in the nation for career outcomes. That category considers factors including median salary, student loan default rates and the share of former students whose earnings exceed those of the typical high school graduate.

Maintaining the No. 1 position in the Inland Empire for a third consecutive year reflects the consistency of the college’s academic programs, student support and career preparation, college leaders said.

“Being ranked No. 1 in the Inland Empire for a third year in a row tells us something important: We are building something that is consistent and sustainable,” said Moreno Valley College President Rudy Besikof, Ed.D. “That kind of consistency comes from faculty who are committed to student success, staff who work every day to remove barriers, and a college-wide focus on making sure students have a clear path from enrollment to completion and into their next opportunity. Our community deserves to know that exceptional educational and career outcomes are happening right here in the Inland Empire.”

WalletHub, an independent personal finance website, compiles its rankings using publicly available data from sources including the U.S. Department of Education and the National Center for Education Statistics. The organization does not solicit input from the colleges included in its rankings.

Moreno Valley College’s ranking for career outcomes is supported by strong post-college earnings and affordability. According to U.S. Department of Education data cited in the study, the median earnings of Moreno Valley College graduates are $52,133, more than 50% higher than the typical earnings of a high school graduate. About 99% of MVC graduates complete their programs without student loan debt.

Together, those outcomes illustrate what the college’s No. 1 regional ranking represents: providing students with an affordable education that can lead to meaningful economic opportunity.

Moreno Valley College was ranked No. 11 nationally and No. 5 for career outcomes in WalletHub’s 2025 report. While the college’s overall national and state rankings vary from year to year as the performance of colleges across the country changes, its No. 1 position in the Inland Empire has remained consistent.

“When an independent study continues to recognize a college at the top of its region, that reflects the work happening throughout the institution,” Besikof said. “It is the result of decisions made at every level, from the classroom to student services to the leadership of the college. We are proud of that work, but most importantly, we are proud of what it means for our students and the communities we serve.”

Moreno Valley College is part of the Riverside Community College District and serves students throughout the Moreno Valley and Perris areas.

The full WalletHub report and methodology are available at WalletHub.