Renton Technical College is one of the best two-year colleges for adult learners in the country, according to a new ranking. RTC ranked No. 8 on the 2017 College Guide and Rankings compiled by Washington Monthly, a Washington, D.C.,-based magazine.

Factors measured include tuition and fees, the strength of transfer policies, the share of students over age 25, average post-college earnings, and quality of services for adult students. The ranking seeks to recognize those schools that are meeting the needs of adult students, many with jobs and families.

Researchers took data from two federal government sources as well as the College Board’s Annual Survey of Colleges and combined them into seven general measures of colleges’ openness and responsiveness to adult students and to how well those students fared once they left. The two-year schools on the list can be found here, and a detailed methodology is available here.

Washington Monthly says theirs is the first ever ranking of its kind and is designed to recognize colleges that serve a large segment of the college population, those over age 25.

“The colleges on our two-year list may be largely unknown outside their communities, but they deserve a moment in the national spotlight for delivering quality educations for adult learners,” Editor-in-Chief Paul Glastris wrote.

RTC President Kevin McCarthy said he is pleased to hear the College ranked so highly.

“Though we don’t do it for ranking or recognition, it is gratifying to see RTC named among the nation’s best,” he said. “Every day we’re working to help our students change their lives and be competitive in the workplace.”  

Renton Technical College is an Achieving the Dream Leader College, and was a top 10 finalist for the 2015 Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence.