Colby Community College is a public institution offering associate degrees based in Colby, Kansas. It enrolls 838 students (a small, tight-knit student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (2-Year). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Strong
71/100
UCD Score · 2-Year
Outcomes60
Value71
Affordability41
Selectivity—
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
As a two-year college, Colby Community College generally admits all qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
Open
SAT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Colby Community College isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $7,886 per year. That's well below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$7,886
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
22%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
18%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees (in-state)
$4,140
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$5,830
Room & Board (on-campus)
$8,562
Room & Board (off-campus)
$8,984
Books & Supplies
$1,064
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$3,220
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$3,220
Total Cost of Attendance
$13,160
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$7,707
$30,001 – $48,000
$13,160
$48,001 – $75,000
$13,160
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$2,12510%percentile
$3,50025%percentile
$8,908Medianpercentile
$10,50075%percentile
$15,00090%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $6,467
↓ $2,441
No Pell $5,500
↓ $3,408
Dependent students $5,500
↓ $3,408
Independent students $7,650
↓ $1,258
Female students $6,500
↓ $2,408
Male students $5,500
↓ $3,408
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $5,500, less than completers ($8,908), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
17% of full-time students who enrolled at Colby Community College graduate within six years, and 68% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
17%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
68%
Returning for their second year
What this means:
Lower than typical completion. Worth asking the school how they support students who fall behind.
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Colby Community College earn a median of $41,889 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$41,889
Earning > $25K
71%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$33,900
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$40,900
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$33,300
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$37,500
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$41,100
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $7,000, about 17% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Stable ↑
4.3 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Strong. 77% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Colby Community College is home to 838 students, a small, close-knit community. Some distinctive traits: 40% are first-generation college students.
Total Enrolled
838
Part-Time
36%
First-Generation
40%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 72.2%605
International 8.1%68
Black 6.7%56
Hispanic 5.5%46
Other 5.1%43
Asian 0.5%4
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Colby Community College. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Town: RemoteColby, Kansas
Housing
Partly residential276 beds available
Adult Learners
22%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
What You Can Study
Colby Community College offers
a varied set of programs:
19 distinct programs across
9 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Colby Community College is 21:1, on the higher side.
Student : Faculty
21:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$5,651
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$7.9M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$51,120
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
38 instructional faculty across 1 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Instructors
38
100%
$51,120
Pros & Cons of Colby Community College
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Colby Community College tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Very affordable net price after aid
Open admissions
Tight-knit, close community feel
Low typical debt at graduation
First-gen-friendly student body
CONS
Larger class sizes than typical
Fewer clubs, activities, and social options
Low completion rate, many students don't graduate within six years
First-year retention is below typical
Earnings outcomes are on the lower side
Best for:
Based on the data, Colby Community College is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier; families focused on keeping net cost low; students who thrive in small, close-knit environments.
Frequently Asked Questions about Colby Community College
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Colby Community College.
Is Colby Community College hard to get into?
Colby Community College has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted.
What is the acceptance rate at Colby Community College?
Colby Community College has an acceptance rate of 0%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does Colby Community College cost?
The average net price after aid at Colby Community College is $7,886 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Colby Community College worth it?
Strong return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $41,889 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $7,886 per year. That's roughly 5.3x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Colby Community College known for?
Colby Community College is best known for its programs in Liberal Arts, Practical Nursing, Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Colby Community College graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Colby Community College are $41,889, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Colby Community College accredited?
Yes. Colby Community College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
How many students attend Colby Community College?
Colby Community College enrolls 838 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Colby Community College?
Colby Community College graduates 17% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Colby Community College a public or private college?
Colby Community College is a Public institution.
Where is Colby Community College located?
Colby Community College is located in Colby, Kansas.
What programs does Colby Community College offer?
Colby Community College offers 19 distinct programs. The most popular include Liberal Arts, Practical Nursing, Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Colby Community College?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Colby Community College is 21:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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