Financial advisor Student Loan Hero ranked Colby Community College 8th out of 513 institutions in the country for successful transfer from a community college to a four-year university.

The rankings of the top 50 schools in the study were based on transfer-out and graduation rates of students attending public two-year schools that grant less than half of their degrees and certifications for career or vocational training.

For the last two years, Colby Community College posted the highest graduation rate among Kansas community colleges. Appearing near the top of the rankings is no surprise to college president Dr. Seth Carter.

"Our students continue to perform at incredibly high academic levels," he said. "The dedication of the faculty, staff, and students is evident anytime you receive recognition like this; however, to be in the top 1.6% of the nation for student transfer and graduation rates embodies the commitment to the institution’s mission and our commitment to serving students."

Student Loan Hero calculated rankings with data provided by the U.S. Department of Education’s Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System. Schools were ranked by the combined number of students who either graduated or transferred out within three years of matriculation.

The full list of rankings is available on the Student Loan Hero website.