West Kentucky Community and Technical College
- Graduation Rate
- 49% C-
- About half of students who start complete their degree
- Earnings (10yr)
- $34,891 D+
- Below average for college graduates
- Net Price
- $5,353 A
- 69% less than the typical college
- Enrollment
- 2,851
Bottom line: A C+ overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 39.4× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $39.4 over 20 years.
Every $1 spent returns $39.4 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $821,367.
What The Data Says
-
A C+ overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
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Every $1 invested returns $39.4 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why West Kentucky Community and Technical College Matters
West Kentucky Community and Technical College is a public college in Paducah, KY 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
- 2,851
- Setting
- Urban
- Primary Strengths
- Health Professions, Business & Marketing, Precision Production, Humanities
Why students choose West Kentucky 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 $5,353 a year after grants and scholarships — 69% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $34,891 ten years after enrolling — 14% below the typical college, against $8,986 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Strong cross-class social capital — an economic-connectedness score of 1.26 (Opportunity Insights).
See mobility →Overview
West Kentucky Community and Technical College serves around 2,851 students, making it a great fit for those looking for a more personalized college experience. Students here often dive into programs like Health Professions, Business & Marketing, and Mechanic & Repair Tech. These programs align with local job markets, offering practical skills that can lead to immediate employment in fields that are in demand.
After graduation, students can expect to earn around $34,891 a year within a decade. This figure reflects the college's focus on equipping students for real-world careers. The affordability factor also stands out; with a net price of just $5,353 after aid, West Kentucky keeps education accessible. Many students benefit from financial support, with about 33% receiving Pell Grants, which can help ease the burden of college costs.
When it comes to managing debt, the median debt for graduates is $8,986, a figure that suggests most students leave with a manageable financial load. This environment tends to attract those who are motivated and ready to take on the challenges of their chosen fields. It's a space where practical skills meet community needs, fostering a sense of purpose and opportunity for those who enroll.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective West Kentucky 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 West Kentucky Community and Technical College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
West Kentucky Community and Technical College, located in Paducah, Kentucky, enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 49%.
- Retention Rate
- 71%
- Full-Time Faculty
- 99%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $5,543
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 18:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.39
- First-Gen Students
- 48%
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 West Kentucky Community and Technical College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at West Kentucky 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 $5,353. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $4,345 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $8,986 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $4,728
- Out-of-State
- $6,432
- Avg Net Price
- $5,353
- Median Debt
- $8,986
- Pell Grant Rate
- 33%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 9%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $4,345
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $4,561
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $6,414
- Family Income $110K+
- $12,695
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Graduate Outcomes
Is West Kentucky Community and Technical College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of West Kentucky Community and Technical College report median earnings of $34,891, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $29,823
- 8 Years
- $31,446
- 10 Years
- $34,891
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.26x
- Earning > $25K
- 43%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (288)
- 39%
- 100% (288)
- 39%
- 100% (288)
- 39%
- 100% (288)
- 39%
How West 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 West Kentucky 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, West Kentucky Community and Technical College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $5,353/year ($21,412 total). Graduates earn $34,891 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $842,779 in total earnings — a net gain of $821,367 (39.4× your investment). The median debt is $8,986, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 49% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $21,412
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $842,779
- Net Return
- $821,367
- ROI Multiple
- 39.4×
- Cost Per Year
- $5,353
- Median Debt
- $8,986
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 49%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Top Programs
The fields West Kentucky Community and Technical College awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Each links to its degree guide — with salary, growth, and the schools with the strongest outcomes.
- Health Professions 29%
- Business & Marketing 14%
- Precision Production 12%
- Humanities 10%
- Computer Science & IT 9%
- Mechanic & Repair Tech 8%
- Construction Trades 7%
- Criminal Justice 2%
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for West Kentucky 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 West Kentucky Community and Technical College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
West Kentucky Community and Technical College, located in Paducah, Kentucky, enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 49%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend West Kentucky Community and Technical College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at West Kentucky 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 $5,353. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $4,345 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $8,986 in federal student loans.
Is West Kentucky Community and Technical College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of West Kentucky Community and Technical College report median earnings of $34,891, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
How Connected Is West Kentucky 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 high at West Kentucky Community and Technical College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.26, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias sits near the middle of the range (0.05). Around 9% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to West Kentucky Community and Technical College.
- Owensboro Community and Technical CollegeOwensboro, KY · Close peer52% grad $35,798 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Gateway Community and Technical CollegeFlorence, KY · Close peer53% grad $36,147 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar net price
- Alamance Community CollegeGraham, NC · Close peer38% grad $34,241 earnWhy: similar earnings
- Elizabethtown Community and Technical CollegeElizabethtown, KY · Close peer54% grad $36,143 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar net price
- Madisonville Community CollegeMadisonville, KY · Close peer52% grad $35,733 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Ogden-Weber Technical CollegeOgden, UT · Close peer54% grad $35,032 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is West Kentucky 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 high at West Kentucky Community and Technical College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.26, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias sits near the middle of the range (0.05). Around 9% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note