Highland Community College is a public institution offering associate degrees based in Highland, Kansas. It enrolls 1,279 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.
Fair
53/100
UCD Score · 2-Year
Outcomes20
Value54
Affordability32
Selectivity—
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
As a two-year college, Highland 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 Highland 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 $10,454 per year. That's below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$10,454
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
20%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
15%
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
$4,080
Room & Board (on-campus)
$8,996
Room & Board (off-campus)
$11,268
Books & Supplies
$1,362
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$5,274
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$5,247
Total Cost of Attendance
$17,914
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
$7,552
$30,001 – $48,000
$9,253
$48,001 – $75,000
$11,455
$75,001 – $110,000
$13,798
Over $110,000
$14,818
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.
$2,00010%percentile
$3,25025%percentile
$8,277Medianpercentile
$9,50075%percentile
$14,02190%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 $5,500
↓ $2,777
No Pell $5,500
↓ $2,777
Dependent students $5,500
↓ $2,777
Independent students $7,996
↓ $281
Female students $6,000
↓ $2,277
Male students $5,500
↓ $2,777
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $5,250, less than completers ($8,277), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
11% of full-time students who enrolled at Highland Community College graduate within six years, and 40% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
11%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
40%
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 Highland Community College earn a median of $41,291 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$41,291
Earning > $25K
67%
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
$31,000
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)
$31,200
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$35,400
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$44,800
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $9,900, about 24% 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 ↑
8.1 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Moderate. Only 57% of graduates are paying down principal seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Highland Community College is home to 1,279 students, a small, close-knit community. Some distinctive traits: 45% are first-generation college students, 43% study part-time.
Total Enrolled
1,279
Part-Time
43%
First-Generation
45%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 62.2%796
Black 16.3%208
Other 11.3%145
Hispanic 4.5%58
Asian 1.6%21
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Highland Community College. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Rural: DistantHighland, Kansas
Housing
Partly residential400 beds available
Adult Learners
18%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
What You Can Study
Highland Community College offers
a varied set of programs:
23 distinct programs across
12 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 Highland Community College is 13:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
13:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$4,440
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$6.1M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$55,384
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
49 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
No Rank
49
100%
$55,384
Pros & Cons of Highland Community College
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Highland Community College tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Below-average net price
Open admissions
Reasonable class sizes
Tight-knit, close community feel
Low typical debt at graduation
First-gen-friendly student body
CONS
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
Predominantly serves middle- and upper-income families
Best for:
Based on the data, Highland Community College is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier; working adults or students needing part-time study options; students who thrive in small, close-knit environments.
Frequently Asked Questions about Highland Community College
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Highland Community College.
Is Highland Community College hard to get into?
Highland Community College has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted.
What is the acceptance rate at Highland Community College?
Highland Community College has an acceptance rate of 0%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does Highland Community College cost?
The average net price after aid at Highland Community College is $10,454 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Highland Community College worth it?
Solid return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $41,291 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $10,454 per year. That's roughly 3.9x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Highland Community College known for?
Highland Community College is best known for its programs in Practical Nursing, Liberal Arts, Education, General. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Highland Community College graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Highland Community College are $41,291, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Highland Community College accredited?
Yes. Highland Community College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
How many students attend Highland Community College?
Highland Community College enrolls 1,279 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Highland Community College?
Highland Community College graduates 11% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Highland Community College a public or private college?
Highland Community College is a Public institution.
Where is Highland Community College located?
Highland Community College is located in Highland, Kansas.
What programs does Highland Community College offer?
Highland Community College offers 23 distinct programs. The most popular include Practical Nursing, Liberal Arts, Education, General.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Highland Community College?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Highland Community College is 13:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
Related Colleges in Kansas
Other colleges in Kansas share the same applicant pool, regional economy, and academic landscape. Comparing nearby options puts admissions, costs, and outcomes in context, useful when weighing your fit against local alternatives.
Liberal Arts
Practical Nursing
Electrical and Power Transmission Installers
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