Colby Community College
#8 Most Affordable Colleges in Kansas- Graduation Rate
- 56% C
- About half of students who start complete their degree
- Earnings (10yr)
- $41,889 C
- Roughly in line with national averages
- Net Price
- $7,886 B+
- 54% less than the typical college
- Enrollment
- 838
Bottom line: A C+ overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 28.8× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $28.8 over 20 years. Ranked #8 in Most Affordable Colleges in Kansas.
Every $1 spent returns $28.8 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $878,114.
What The Data Says
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A C+ overall — outcomes above the typical U.S. college.
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Every $1 invested returns $28.8 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Colby Community College Matters
Colby Community College is a public college in Colby, KS 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
- 838
- Setting
- Town
- Primary Strengths
- Humanities, Health Professions, Transportation, Precision Production
Why students choose Colby 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 $7,886 a year after grants and scholarships — 54% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $41,889 ten years after enrolling — 3% above the typical college, against $8,908 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 1.9% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 31% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.38 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
Colby Community College has a net price of just $7,886, making it an accessible option for many students seeking higher education. With an enrollment of 838, students can expect a more intimate learning environment. The graduation rate stands at 56%, indicating that more than half of the students successfully complete their programs.
While specific mobility data isn't available, the earnings for graduates ten years after attending average $41,889. This suggests that students can find decent job opportunities after completing their studies. The college's focus on practical programs in areas like Health Professions and Business can help students enter the workforce prepared.
With median debt at $8,908, graduates leave with manageable loans. The 22% Pell Grant rate shows that a significant portion of students receive financial aid, which can further reduce costs. Colby Community College is a good fit for students who want a supportive atmosphere and practical education that leads to solid job prospects.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective Colby 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 Colby Community College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a public institution in Colby, Kansas, Colby Community College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 56%.
- Retention Rate
- 66%
- Full-Time Faculty
- 94%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $6,017
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 19:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.46
- First-Gen Students
- 40%
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 Colby Community College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Colby Community College is $5,830, 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 $7,886. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $7,707 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $8,908 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $4,140
- Out-of-State
- $5,830
- Avg Net Price
- $7,886
- Median Debt
- $8,908
- Pell Grant Rate
- 22%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 18%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $7,707
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $13,160
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $13,160
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 Colby 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 Colby Community College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Colby Community College report median earnings of $41,889, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $38,878
- 8 Years
- $38,582
- 10 Years
- $41,889
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.21x
- Earning > $25K
- 54%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (96)
- 46%
- 100% (96)
- 46%
- 100% (96)
- 46%
- 100% (96)
- 46%
How Colby 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 Colby Community College Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Colby Community College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $7,886/year ($31,544 total). Graduates earn $41,889 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $909,658 in total earnings — a net gain of $878,114 (28.8× your investment). The median debt is $8,908, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 56% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $31,544
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $909,658
- Net Return
- $878,114
- ROI Multiple
- 28.8×
- Cost Per Year
- $7,886
- Median Debt
- $8,908
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 56%
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 Colby Community College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Colby Community College is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 1.91%, well above the typical college. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 13.1% 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 14.6% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $57,600, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 1.91%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 14.6%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 13.1%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $78,258
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Endowment
- $7,415,607
- Federal Grants
- $4,139,664
- Investment Income
- $59,877
Top Programs
The fields Colby 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.
- Humanities 32%
- Health Professions 16% $57,468 early-career
- Transportation 15%
- Precision Production 5%
- Mechanic & Repair Tech 2%
- Business & Marketing 1%
- Education 0%
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 Colby 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
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CPetroleum Engineer$135,690 · 2% growthResilient 72
- CSales Manager$135,160 · 4% growthAdaptable 64
- CPurchasing Manager$131,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CAerospace Engineer$130,720 · 6% growthResilient 72
- B+Nurse Practitioner$129,480 · 40% growthResilient 96
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Colby Community College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a public institution in Colby, Kansas, Colby Community College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 56%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Colby Community College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Colby Community College is $5,830, 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 $7,886. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $7,707 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $8,908 in federal student loans.
Is Colby Community College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Colby Community College report median earnings of $41,889, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
Does Colby Community College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Colby Community College is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 1.91%, well above the typical college. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 13.1% 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 14.6% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $57,600, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Colby 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 Colby Community College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.38, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.00), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 6% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Colby Community College.
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- William T McFatter Technical CollegeDavie, FL · Close peer64% grad $41,656 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Sauk Valley Community CollegeDixon, IL · Close peer50% grad $40,458 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar net price
- Neosho County Community CollegeChanute, KS · Close peer36% grad $45,966 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar size · same state
- Apollo Career CenterLima, OH · Close peer67% grad $43,101 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar size
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Colby 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 Colby Community College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.38, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.00), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 6% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note