Big Sandy Community and Technical College
#4 Most Affordable Colleges in Kentucky- Graduation Rate
- 38% D
- Lower completion rate than most colleges
- Earnings (10yr)
- $32,954 D+
- Below average for college graduates
- Net Price
- $3,873 A
- 77% less than the typical college
- Enrollment
- 1,604
Bottom line: A C overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 51.5× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $51.5 over 20 years. Ranked #4 in Most Affordable Colleges in Kentucky.
Every $1 spent returns $51.5 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $782,920.
What The Data Says
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A C overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
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Graduation of 38% — 34% below the national average.
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Every $1 invested returns $51.5 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
About Big Sandy Community and Technical College
Big Sandy Community and Technical College is profiled below with full outcomes data from federal sources.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Public College
- Carnegie Class
- Associate's College
- Enrollment
- 1,604
- Setting
- Town
- Primary Strengths
- Health Professions, Mechanic & Repair Tech, Construction Trades, Humanities
Why students choose Big Sandy Community and Technical College
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
This school does not report a competitive admit rate — most qualified applicants are admitted.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $3,873 a year after grants and scholarships — 77% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $32,954 ten years after enrolling — 19% below the typical college, against $9,357 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Strong cross-class social capital — an economic-connectedness score of 0.80 (Opportunity Insights).
See mobility →Overview
With an enrollment of 1,604 students, Big Sandy Community and Technical College in Prestonsburg, KY, caters well to those looking for a more personal and focused learning environment. It’s ideal for students seeking practical skills in fields like Construction Trades, Health Professions, and Mechanic & Repair Tech. The smaller size means more individualized attention, which can really enhance the learning experience.
Looking at the outcomes for graduates, those who complete their programs can expect to earn an average of $32,954 a year a decade after finishing school. While the graduation rate sits at 38%, it’s worth noting that many students find good pathways into the workforce. The cost of attendance is relatively low, making it a more accessible option for many, especially with 44% of students receiving Pell Grants to help cover expenses.
In terms of financials, the net price after aid comes in at just $3,873, and the median debt for graduates is $9,357. This manageable debt load can be a significant factor for students as they transition into their careers. Those who thrive here often appreciate the community-focused environment and the chance to gain hands-on experience in their chosen fields.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective Big Sandy Community and Technical College is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into Big Sandy Community and Technical College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a public institution in Prestonsburg, Kentucky, Big Sandy Community and Technical College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 38%.
- Retention Rate
- 61%
- Full-Time Faculty
- 84%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $5,720
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 13:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.10
- First-Gen Students
- 60%
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Big Sandy Community and Technical College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Big Sandy Community and Technical College is $6,432, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $3,873. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $3,198 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $9,357 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $4,728
- Out-of-State
- $6,432
- Avg Net Price
- $3,873
- Median Debt
- $9,357
- Pell Grant Rate
- 44%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 15%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $3,198
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $3,432
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $6,409
- Family Income $110K+
- $7,877
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Students Like You
Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at Big Sandy Community and Technical College — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Big Sandy Community and Technical College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Big Sandy Community and Technical College report median earnings of $32,954, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $28,106
- 8 Years
- $29,277
- 10 Years
- $32,954
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.28x
- Earning > $25K
- 38%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (117)
- 20%
- 100% (117)
- 20%
- 100% (117)
- 20%
- 100% (117)
- 20%
How Big Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
College ROI Calculator
Is Big Sandy Community and Technical College Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Big Sandy Community and Technical College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $3,873/year ($15,492 total). Graduates earn $32,954 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $798,412 in total earnings — a net gain of $782,920 (51.5× your investment). The median debt is $9,357, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 38% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $15,492
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $798,412
- Net Return
- $782,920
- ROI Multiple
- 51.5×
- Cost Per Year
- $3,873
- Median Debt
- $9,357
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 38%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Top Programs
The fields Big Sandy Community and Technical College awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.
- Health Professions 20% $69,312 early-career
- Mechanic & Repair Tech 18%
- Construction Trades 15% $42,081 early-career
- Humanities 11%
- Computer Science & IT 8%
- Business & Marketing 6%
- Precision Production 6%
- Criminal Justice 3%
Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Big Sandy Community and Technical College's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- C+Cloud Architect$142,000 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Site Reliability Engineer$140,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CSolutions Architect$138,000 · 12% growthAdaptable 52
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CPetroleum Engineer$135,690 · 2% growthResilient 72
- CSales Manager$135,160 · 4% growthAdaptable 64
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Big Sandy Community and Technical College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a public institution in Prestonsburg, Kentucky, Big Sandy Community and Technical College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 38%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Big Sandy Community and Technical College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Big Sandy Community and Technical College is $6,432, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $3,873. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $3,198 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $9,357 in federal student loans.
Is Big Sandy Community and Technical College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Big Sandy Community and Technical College report median earnings of $32,954, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
How Connected Is Big Sandy Community and Technical College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs below average at Big Sandy Community and Technical College. Its economic connectedness score is 0.80, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.05), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 7% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Big Sandy Community and Technical College.
- North Georgia Technical CollegeClarkesville, GA · Close peer38% grad $32,932 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Edgecombe Community CollegeTarboro, NC · Close peer45% grad $33,267 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Lenoir Community CollegeKinston, NC · Close peer33% grad $33,866 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Danville Area Community CollegeDanville, IL · Close peer41% grad $34,867 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Southeast Kentucky Community & Technical CollegeCumberland, KY · Close peer45% grad $29,482 earnWhy: similar grad rate · similar size · similar net price
- Clovis Community CollegeClovis, NM · Close peer38% grad $34,020 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Big Sandy Community and Technical College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs below average at Big Sandy Community and Technical College. Its economic connectedness score is 0.80, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.05), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 7% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note