Two Carroll colleges recently received high rankings in local and national lists.

McDaniel College was named No. 1 in a Best Value category for U.S. News and World Report and Carroll Community College was ranked No. 1 in Maryland community colleges by College Consensus.

A news release from McDaniel College notes that this is the third consecutive year the college was named No. 1 for academic quality and affordability on U.S. News and World Report’s Best Value Schools-Regional Universities North list.

The site says the Best Value schools are determined by the 2020-2021 net cost of attendance for an out-of-state student who received the average level of need-based financial aid.

“The higher the quality of the program and the lower the cost, the better the deal,” the website explains.

It also says that U.S. News considers the most significant values to be among colleges that are above average academically.

McDaniel also ranked No. 31 as one of the best regional universities in the north in the publication’s 2022 Best Colleges rankings. The website says that regional universities offer a full range of undergraduate programs and some masters programs but few doctoral programs.

McDaniel’s news release states U.S. News looks for factors like class size, admission selectivity, retention and graduation rates to determine its overall rankings.

McDaniel made other U.S. News lists, including Top Performers on Social Mobility, which highlights schools that are successful in graduating high-need students, and best master’s universities. McDaniel was No. 33 in the Washington Monthly’s Best Bang for the Buck. And it was named one of the Best 387 Colleges in The Princeton Review’s 2022 college guide and on its Best Northeastern regional colleges list.

Carroll Community College was ranked the No. 1 community college in Maryland and No. 10 nationwide, according to a survey by College Consensus. The College Consensus website explains that the 2021 list combines data from the most respected college ranking publications and most reliable student review sites online.

A news release from Carroll Community College notes that College Consensus bases its analysis on three metrics: cost, reputation and student outcomes. It also states College Consensus noted CCC’s 70 associate’s degrees and certificate programs, small class sizes and the high rate of students who transfer to four-year institutions.

“We are very pleased to receive recognition for our performance among our community college peers in the state and the nation,” President James Ball said. “Our goal is to provide innovative and challenging educational opportunities that enable students to find transfer and/or career success as well as to pursue lifelong learning experiences through our continuing education offerings.”

He said the ranking speaks volumes about the college’s programs and its dedicated faculty and staff.

Carroll Community College was also ranked No. 1 for best community colleges in Maryland by Value Colleges. In 2020, according to CCC’s news release, the college was No. 1 in Maryland and #21 overall in WalletHub’s Best and Worst Community Colleges ranking.