Pinnacle Career Institute is a private for-profit institution offering associate degrees based in Kansas City, Missouri. It enrolls 619 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.
AccreditorAccrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges
Academic CalendarContinuous
How It Measures Up
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.
Good
58/100
UCD Score · 2-Year
Outcomes55
Value7
Affordability52
Selectivity—
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
As a two-year college, Pinnacle Career Institute 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 Pinnacle Career Institute 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 $28,732 per year. That's in line with the typical net price for private for-profit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$28,732
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
77%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
73%
Borrowing to attend
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
$28,154
$30,001 – $48,000
$29,474
$48,001 – $75,000
$30,543
$75,001 – $110,000
$32,435
Over $110,000
$33,018
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.
$3,11010%percentile
$5,81425%percentile
$11,605Medianpercentile
$13,00075%percentile
$17,63790%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 $8,050
↓ $3,555
No Pell $8,415
↓ $3,190
Dependent students $7,600
↓ $4,005
Independent students $9,161
↓ $2,444
Female students $7,917
↓ $3,688
Male students $8,581
↓ $3,024
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $5,499, less than completers ($11,605), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
43% of full-time students who enrolled at Pinnacle Career Institute graduate within six years, and 67% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
43%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
67%
Returning for their second year
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Pinnacle Career Institute earn a median of $34,213 ten years after first enrolling. That's below the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$34,213
Earning > $25K
57%
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
$21,100
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$38,700
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $17,600, about 45% 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.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
9.0 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Concerning. Only 37% of graduates are actively reducing principal even seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Pinnacle Career Institute is home to 619 students, a small, close-knit community. Some distinctive traits: 54% are first-generation college students.
Total Enrolled
619
Part-Time
0%
First-Generation
54%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 50.1%310
Black 24.2%150
Hispanic 16.2%100
Other 8.2%51
Asian 0.3%2
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Pinnacle Career Institute. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Large CityKansas City, Missouri
Housing
Commuter campusOnline-only, no physical campus
Adult Learners
80%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NAIAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Continuousscheduling structure
Designation
Online-only institution
What You Can Study
Pinnacle Career Institute offers
a focused set of programs:
4 distinct programs across
2 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 Pinnacle Career Institute is 26:1, high (larger classes are common).
Student : Faculty
26:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Avg Faculty Salary
$49,035
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
10 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
10
100%
$49,035
Pros & Cons of Pinnacle Career Institute
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Pinnacle Career Institute tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Open admissions
Tight-knit, close community feel
Wide reach of need-based federal aid
Low typical debt at graduation
First-gen-friendly student body
CONS
Above-average net price
Larger class sizes than typical
Fewer clubs, activities, and social options
Below-average completion rate
First-year retention is below typical
Best for:
Based on the data, Pinnacle Career Institute is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier; students who thrive in small, close-knit environments.
Frequently Asked Questions about Pinnacle Career Institute
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Pinnacle Career Institute.
Is Pinnacle Career Institute hard to get into?
Pinnacle Career Institute has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted.
What is the acceptance rate at Pinnacle Career Institute?
Pinnacle Career Institute has an acceptance rate of 0%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does Pinnacle Career Institute cost?
The average net price after aid at Pinnacle Career Institute is $28,732 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Pinnacle Career Institute worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $34,213 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $28,732 per year. That's roughly 1.2x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Pinnacle Career Institute known for?
Pinnacle Career Institute is best known for its programs in Electromechanical Technologies/Technicians, Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians, Heating. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Pinnacle Career Institute graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Pinnacle Career Institute are $34,213, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Pinnacle Career Institute accredited?
Yes. Pinnacle Career Institute is accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges.
How many students attend Pinnacle Career Institute?
Pinnacle Career Institute enrolls 619 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Pinnacle Career Institute?
Pinnacle Career Institute graduates 43% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Pinnacle Career Institute a public or private college?
Pinnacle Career Institute is a Private For-Profit institution.
Where is Pinnacle Career Institute located?
Pinnacle Career Institute is located in Kansas City, Missouri.
What programs does Pinnacle Career Institute offer?
Pinnacle Career Institute offers 4 distinct programs. The most popular include Electromechanical Technologies/Technicians, Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians, Heating.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Pinnacle Career Institute?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Pinnacle Career Institute is 26:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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