(June 27, 2013) – Lone Star College System has been recognized as the top producer of associate degrees in Texas and is ranked third among all community colleges in the nation.

According to the 2013 list of Top 100 Associate Degree Producers published on June 24 by Community College Week magazine, LSCS was listed third in the nation among more than 1,100 community colleges for the number of associate degrees it awarded. LSCS was first in Texas among the 50 community colleges in the state.

Based on the data, LSCS awarded 4,208 associate degrees to students in all disciplines for the 2011-2012 school year, which represents a 26.7 percent increase over degrees awarded in 2010-2011 by LSCS.

“It is an honor to be nationally recognized for the completion work we are doing at Lone Star College System to help our students achieve their goals,” said Dr. Richard Carpenter, LSCS chancellor.  “Our number one objective is student success and credential completion.”

Currently, part-time and transfer students are not counted with those receiving an associate degree although they may have completed the required number of credits needed.

LSCS was also ranked eighth for community colleges nationwide in the 2013 list for the number of its Hispanic students receiving their associate degrees with 1,135 Hispanic graduates, representing an increase of nearly 55 percent.

Other rankings for LSCS in the Community College Week 2013 nationwide list include: LSCS is ranked fifth in the category of Nursing (421 degrees awarded) and 12th in the Health Professions & Related Programs (702 degrees awarded); LSCS is ranked 10th in the Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies & Humanities (2,622 degrees); and LSCS is ranked 24th in Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies with 227 degrees awarded.

Dr. Carpenter pointed out that LSCS has experienced significant growth in the past five years, adding 30,000 students, and it has implemented focused credential completion plans.

As part of its overall credential completion agenda, LSCS leads the Texas Completes effort, a statewide initiative to increase completion rates among community college students, and LSCS has in place its LSC-Success – Learn, Succeed, Complete plan that is embraced throughout the college. LSC Success is the LSCS commitment to help students complete their educational goals of earning an associate degree, earning a Career & Technical credential, transferring to a four-year university with core curriculum completed, or completing coursework to improve career opportunities.

The Top 100 Associate Degree Producers list is compiled by the magazine each year from data collected through the National Center for Education Statistics and the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data Set survey. The 2013 list published this week contains data from the 2011-12 academic year.

Community College Week, one of several national publications covering the education industry, publishes the rankings each June.

Lone Star College System has been opening doors to a better community for 40 years. Founded in 1973, LSCS remains steadfast in its commitment to student success and credential completion. Today, with 78,000 students in credit classes, and a total enrollment of more than 90,000, Lone Star College System is the largest institution of higher education in the Houston area and the fastest-growing community college system in the nation. Dr. Richard Carpenter is the chancellor of LSCS, which consists of six colleges including LSC-CyFair, LSC-Kingwood, LSC-Montgomery, LSC-North Harris, LSC-Tomball and LSC-University Park, Lone Star Corporate College, and LSC-Online. To learn more visit LoneStar.edu.
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