Central Community College
#4 Most Affordable Colleges in Nebraska- Graduation Rate
- 46% D+
- Lower completion rate than most colleges
- Earnings (10yr)
- $39,429 C
- Roughly in line with national averages
- Net Price
- $7,024 A-
- 59% less than the typical college
- Enrollment
- 3,353
Bottom line: A C overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 30.9× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $30.9 over 20 years. Ranked #4 in Most Affordable Colleges in Nebraska.
Every $1 spent returns $30.9 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $840,657.
What The Data Says
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A C overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
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Every $1 invested returns $30.9 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Central Community College Matters
Central Community College is a public college in Grand Island, NE and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: measurable returns for the students it serves.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Public College
- Carnegie Class
- Associate's College
- Enrollment
- 3,353
- Setting
- Urban
- Primary Strengths
- Business & Marketing, Mechanic & Repair Tech, Health Professions, Precision Production
Why students choose Central Community 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 $7,024 a year after grants and scholarships — 59% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $39,429 ten years after enrolling — 3% below the typical college, against $7,992 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 1.0% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 77% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.22 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
Central Community College in Grand Island, Nebraska, is a great fit for students looking for practical, hands-on education in fields like Business & Marketing, Mechanic & Repair Tech, Health Professions, Precision Production, and Criminal Justice. With an enrollment of about 3,353 students, the college fosters a close-knit community where you can expect personalized attention and support from faculty. The emphasis here is on preparing students for real-world careers, making it an appealing choice for those eager to jump into the workforce.
After graduation, students can expect to earn around $39,429 within ten years. While the graduation rate stands at 46%, many graduates find stable employment in their chosen fields. The cost of education is manageable, making it easier for students to focus on their careers rather than financial burdens. This affordability is crucial, especially for those who might be balancing work and study.
Looking at the financial side, the net price after aid is about $7,024, and students typically leave with a median debt of $7,992. This combination suggests that many students can graduate with relatively low debt, which can be a game changer for their future. Those who thrive here are often those who appreciate a practical approach to learning and are motivated to enter the workforce equipped with skills that are in demand.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective Central Community 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 Central Community College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Central Community College, located in Grand Island, Nebraska, enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 46%.
- Retention Rate
- 69%
- Full-Time Faculty
- 56%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $7,281
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 15:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.53
- First-Gen Students
- 49%
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 Central Community College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Central Community College is $4,800, 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 $7,024. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $5,609 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $7,992 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $3,360
- Out-of-State
- $4,800
- Avg Net Price
- $7,024
- Median Debt
- $7,992
- Pell Grant Rate
- 19%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 9%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $5,609
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $6,217
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $6,027
- Family Income $110K+
- $11,829
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 Central Community 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 Central Community College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Central Community College report median earnings of $39,429, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $36,158
- 8 Years
- $38,405
- 10 Years
- $39,429
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.2x
- Earning > $25K
- 51%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (180)
- 31%
- 100% (180)
- 31%
- 100% (180)
- 31%
- 100% (180)
- 31%
How Central Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
The Mobility Equation
Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?
College ROI Calculator
Is Central Community College Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Central Community College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $7,024/year ($28,096 total). Graduates earn $39,429 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $868,753 in total earnings — a net gain of $840,657 (30.9× your investment). The median debt is $7,992, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 46% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $28,096
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $868,753
- Net Return
- $840,657
- ROI Multiple
- 30.9×
- Cost Per Year
- $7,024
- Median Debt
- $7,992
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 46%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Social Mobility
Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records
Does Central Community College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Central Community College is a measurable contributor to upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 0.99%, in line with strong performers nationally. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 13.2% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a real foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 7.5% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $56,600, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 0.99%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 7.5%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 13.2%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $76,900
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Investment Income
- $36,674
Top Programs
The fields Central Community 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.
- Business & Marketing 20% $39,121 early-career
- Mechanic & Repair Tech 17% $44,068 early-career
- Health Professions 16% $64,844 early-career
- Precision Production 10% $47,035 early-career
- Construction Trades 7% $43,440 early-career
- Criminal Justice 7%
- Humanities 5%
- Computer Science & IT 5% $40,911 early-career
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 Central Community 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 Central Community College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Central Community College, located in Grand Island, Nebraska, enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 46%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Central Community College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Central Community College is $4,800, 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 $7,024. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $5,609 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $7,992 in federal student loans.
Is Central Community College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Central Community College report median earnings of $39,429, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
Does Central Community College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Central Community College is a measurable contributor to upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 0.99%, in line with strong performers nationally. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 13.2% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a real foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 7.5% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $56,600, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Central Community College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Central Community College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.22, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.02), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 5% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Central Community College.
- Athens Technical CollegeAthens, GA · Close peer44% grad $35,951 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Laurel Ridge Community CollegeMiddletown, VA · Close peer42% grad $41,000 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Western Iowa Tech Community CollegeSioux City, IA · Close peer44% grad $40,473 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate
- Hutchinson Community CollegeHutchinson, KS · Close peer49% grad $43,470 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Wichita State University-Campus of Applied Sciences and TechnologyWichita, KS · Close peer39% grad $38,679 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate
- Reedley CollegeReedley, CA · Close peer42% grad $38,493 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Central Community College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Central Community College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.22, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.02), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 5% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note