By Angela Underwood, Elizabeth Jackson

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Long gone are the days when education levels weren't inherently tied to income levels. Twenty-first-century teens as young as high school freshmen consider what colleges are available to them sooner rather than later to make a decent living in the long run.

Be it grades or money—many young adults automatically choose the more convenient access to community college to begin their undergraduate education. With 41% of all undergrads in a two-year school, according to the American Association of Community Colleges, Stacker looked to Niche to find out the top community colleges in every state across the country.

Considering the cost and quality indicators of 700 community colleges, WalletHub ranked Arkansas State University's two-year public school Mountain Home as the "Best Community College in the Nation." At the same time, the U.S. Department of Education ranked two-year schools by the highest salaries earned upon graduation. They too gave the Land of Opportunity State the top rating by naming Arkansas State University's two-year college in Beebe the best. The bottom line is this: When it comes down to education and numbers, a community college's annual tuition and fees of $3,660 beat out a four-year university's tuition and fees of $10,230 per year.

In Stacker's research, Davis Technical College tuition was estimated using their net price calculator, Tennessee Technology Center at Elizabethton's tuition was estimated using their net price calculator, and Moore Norman Technology Center tuition was estimated using their net price calculator.

Similar but different, just like each state across the country, the best community colleges in the U.S. offer a great reason to consider a two-year education before moving on to a four-year school. If considering a continued education, there is no better time than now to start studying, and these community colleges are a great place to start.

Read on to find out the best community colleges in every state.

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