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Colby Community College

Public Associate Strong 71/100

Colby Community College

See admissions data, costs, student outcomes, and academic programs, all verified from official US government sources.

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Colby, Kansas

About Colby Community College

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.

Official website: colbycc.edu

Acceptance: Open
Graduation: 16.6%
Net Price: $7,886
Median Earnings (10yr): $41,889
Enrollment: 838
Student : Faculty: 21:1

Accreditor Higher Learning Commission

Academic Calendar Semester

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.

Strong

71/100

UCD Score · 2-Year

Outcomes 60

Value 71

Affordability 41

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.

$2,125

10% percentile

$3,500

25% percentile

$8,908

Median percentile

$10,500

75% percentile

$15,000

90% 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: Remote Colby, Kansas

Housing

Partly residential 276 beds available

Adult Learners

22% of students are 25 or older

Athletics

NCAA athletic-conference member

Academic Calendar

Semester scheduling 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.

1 Program

Liberal Arts

Liberal Arts $53K ($36K–$73K)

4 Programs

Health

Practical Nursing $39K ($22K–$72K)
Nursing $89K ($68K–$114K)
Practical Nursing $39K ($22K–$72K)

4 Programs

Agriculture

1 Program

Engineering Tech

Energy Systems Technologies/Technicians $86K ($69K–$111K)

1 Program

Mechanics & Repair

Energy Systems Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians

5 Programs

Business

Accounting $76K ($56K–$97K)
Business Administration $68K ($48K–$94K)
Business Administration $68K ($48K–$94K)

1 Program

Precision Production

Precision Metal Working

View all majors View all programs

Faculty & Resources

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.