Independence Community College
#1 Most Affordable Colleges in Kansas- Graduation Rate
- 30% F
- Lower completion rate than most colleges
- Earnings (10yr)
- $34,941 D+
- Below average for college graduates
- Net Price
- $3,265 A+
- 81% less than the typical college
- Enrollment
- 486
Bottom line: A C+ overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 65.2× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $65.2 over 20 years. Ranked #1 in Most Affordable Colleges in Kansas.
Every $1 spent returns $65.2 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $838,555.
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 30% — 47% below the national average.
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Every $1 invested returns $65.2 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Independence Community College Matters
Independence Community College is a public community college in Independence, 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 Community College
- Carnegie Class
- Associate's College
- Enrollment
- 486
- Setting
- Rural
- Primary Strengths
- Humanities, Health Professions, Culinary & Personal Services, Business & Marketing
Why students choose Independence 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 $3,265 a year after grants and scholarships — 81% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $34,941 ten years after enrolling — 14% below the typical college, against $6,115 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 1.0% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 78% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.16 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
Independence Community College in Kansas is a great choice for students looking for a close-knit environment with a focus on practical skills. With an enrollment of just 486, this school caters well to those who prefer smaller classes and personalized attention. Students can dive into programs like Health Professions, Humanities, Culinary & Personal Services, Precision Production, and Business & Marketing, which are designed to prepare them for specific career paths.
After graduation, students typically find themselves earning around $34,941 within a decade. While this number may not set the world on fire, it reflects a stable income for many graduates, especially considering the community college's affordability. With a net price of only $3,265 after aid and a Pell Grant rate of 37%, many students manage to graduate with a median debt of just $6,115, allowing for better financial freedom as they start their careers.
When it comes to the bottom line, the cost of attending Independence Community College is quite manageable. The low net price means that students can focus on their studies without incurring heavy debt. Those who thrive here are often self-motivated individuals who appreciate hands-on learning and want to enter the workforce quickly. This college offers a solid pathway for those looking to gain skills and jumpstart their careers without breaking the bank.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective Independence 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 Independence Community College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Independence, Kansas, Independence Community College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 30%.
- Retention Rate
- 44%
- Full-Time Faculty
- 50%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $5,976
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 16:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.76
- First-Gen Students
- 38%
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 Independence Community College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Independence Community College is $4,950, 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 $3,265. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $2,934 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $6,115 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $4,560
- Out-of-State
- $4,950
- Avg Net Price
- $3,265
- Median Debt
- $6,115
- Pell Grant Rate
- 37%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 19%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $2,934
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $3,435
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $1,685
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 Independence 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 Independence Community College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Independence Community College report median earnings of $34,941, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $29,674
- 8 Years
- $32,299
- 10 Years
- $34,941
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.18x
- Earning > $25K
- 46%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (40)
- 18%
- 100% (40)
- 18%
- 100% (40)
- 18%
- 100% (40)
- 18%
How Independence 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 Independence Community College Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Independence Community College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $3,265/year ($13,060 total). Graduates earn $34,941 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $851,615 in total earnings — a net gain of $838,555 (65.2× your investment). The median debt is $6,115, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 30% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $13,060
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $851,615
- Net Return
- $838,555
- ROI Multiple
- 65.2×
- Cost Per Year
- $3,265
- Median Debt
- $6,115
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 30%
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 Independence Community College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Independence 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 0.97%, in line with strong performers nationally. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 20.3% 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 4.8% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $48,600, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 0.97%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 4.8%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 20.3%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $66,030
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Top Programs
The fields Independence 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 40%
- Health Professions 37%
- Culinary & Personal Services 6%
- Business & Marketing 5%
- Education 2%
- Visual & Performing Arts 2%
- Computer Science & IT 1%
- Biology & Biomedical 1%
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Independence 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
- CPharmacist$136,030 · 3% growthResilient 82
- CSales Manager$135,160 · 4% growthAdaptable 64
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Independence Community College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Independence, Kansas, Independence Community College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 30%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Independence Community College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Independence Community College is $4,950, 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 $3,265. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $2,934 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $6,115 in federal student loans.
Is Independence Community College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Independence Community College report median earnings of $34,941, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
Does Independence Community College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Independence 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 0.97%, in line with strong performers nationally. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 20.3% 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 4.8% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $48,600, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Independence 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 Independence Community College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.16, 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 8% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Independence Community College.
- Paul D Camp Community CollegeFranklin, VA · Close peer30% grad $36,031 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Palau Community CollegeKoror, PW · Close peer31% grad $29,898 earnWhy: similar grad rate · similar size
- Gogebic Community CollegeIronwood, MI · Close peer34% grad $40,950 earnWhy: similar grad rate · similar size
- Clatsop Community CollegeAstoria, OR · Close peer27% grad $39,477 earnWhy: similar grad rate · similar size
- New River Community and Technical CollegeBeaver, WV · Close peer33% grad $29,073 earnWhy: similar grad rate · similar size · similar net price
- Carl Sandburg CollegeGalesburg, IL · Close peer45% grad $35,274 earnWhy: similar earnings
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Independence 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 Independence Community College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.16, 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 8% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note