Public Associate Good 66/100

Independence Community College

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

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Independence, Kansas

About Independence Community College

Independence Community College is a public institution offering associate degrees based in Independence, Kansas. It enrolls 486 students (a very small, intimate 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.

Acceptance
Open
Graduation
18.8%
Net Price
$3,265
Median Earnings (10yr)
$34,941
Enrollment
486
Student : Faculty
16:1

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.

Good
66/100
UCD Score · 2-Year
Outcomes 10
Value 94
Affordability 72
Selectivity

Admissions & Acceptance Rate

As a two-year college, Independence 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 Independence 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 $3,265 per year. That's well below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.

Average Net Price
$3,265
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
37%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
19%
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)
$4,560
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$4,950
Room & Board (on-campus)
$7,200
Room & Board (off-campus)
$7,258
Books & Supplies
$816
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$3,200
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$3,000
Total Cost of Attendance
$8,824

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
    $2,934
  • $30,001 – $48,000
    $3,435
  • $48,001 – $75,000
    $1,685
  • $75,001 – $110,000
    $6,220

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.

$1,312
10% percentile
$1,945
25% percentile
$6,115
Median percentile
$5,634
75% percentile
$8,750
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 $4,476 ↓ $1,639
No Pell $6,500 ↑ $385
Dependent students $4,533 ↓ $1,582
Independent students $4,812 ↓ $1,303
Female students $5,500 ↓ $615
Male students $4,376 ↓ $1,739
Pell recipients: 14.8% (906 students)No Pell: 21.5% (1,316 students)Dependent students: 15.0% (918 students)Independent students: 15.9% (974 students)Female students: 18.2% (1,114 students)Male students: 14.5% (886 students)Overall Median$6,115
Worth knowing: Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $4,035, less than completers ($6,115), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.

Graduation Rate & Retention

19% of full-time students who enrolled at Independence Community College graduate within six years, and 50% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

6-Year Graduation Rate
19%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
50%
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 Independence Community College earn a median of $34,941 ten years after first enrolling. That's below the national median for U.S. colleges.

Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$34,941
Earning > $25K
56%
10 yrs after entry

Earnings Growth After Graduation

Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.

$29,000$31,000$32,000$34,000$36,0006 yrs8 yrs10 yrs

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
$26,100

Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.

Male graduates
$36,100

Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.

The gender gap: Male graduates earn $10,000, about 28% 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 10.3 pts across 6 years
45%1yr54.8%3yr55.3%5yr
What this signals: Moderate. Only 55% of graduates are paying down principal seven years out.

Who Studies Here

Independence Community College is home to 486 students, an intimate, close-knit community. Some distinctive traits: 38% are first-generation college students.

Total Enrolled
486
Part-Time
17%
First-Generation
38%

Race & Ethnicity Breakdown

Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.

GroupShareStudents
White 33.7% 164
Black 33.5% 163
Hispanic 8.9% 43
Other 8.0% 39
International 4.1% 20
White: 33.7% (164 students)Black: 33.5% (163 students)Hispanic: 8.9% (43 students)Other: 8.0% (39 students)International: 4.1% (20 students)Total486

Student Life & Campus Culture

Where students live, learn, and connect at Independence Community College. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.

Setting
Rural: Fringe Independence, Kansas
Housing
Mostly residential 296 beds on campus
Adult Learners
10% of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAA athletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semester scheduling structure

What You Can Study

Independence Community College offers a varied set of programs: 17 distinct programs across 11 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.

4 Programs
1 Program
1 Program
2 Programs
2 Programs

Faculty & Resources

The student-to-faculty ratio at Independence Community College is 16:1, close to the national average.

Student : Faculty
16:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$9,137
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Avg Faculty Salary
$52,472
9-month equivalent across all ranks

Faculty by Rank

26 instructional faculty across 2 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
Full Professors 15 58% $47,766
Associate Professors 11 42% $58,889

Pros & Cons of Independence Community College

A quick at-a-glance summary of how Independence 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
  • Reasonable class sizes
  • Tight-knit, close community feel
  • Low typical debt at graduation
CONS
  • Fewer clubs, activities, and social options
  • Low completion rate, many students don't graduate within six years
  • First-year retention is below typical
  • Below-average post-graduation earnings
Best for: Based on the data, Independence 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 Independence Community College

Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Independence Community College.

Is Independence Community College hard to get into?
Independence Community College has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted.
What is the acceptance rate at Independence Community College?
Independence Community College has an acceptance rate of 0%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does Independence Community College cost?
The average net price after aid at Independence Community College is $3,265 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Independence Community College worth it?
Strong return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $34,941 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $3,265 per year. That's roughly 10.7x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Independence Community College known for?
Independence Community College is best known for its programs in Liberal Arts, Practical Nursing, Medical Assisting. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Independence Community College graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Independence Community College are $34,941, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Independence Community College accredited?
Yes. Independence Community College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
How many students attend Independence Community College?
Independence Community College enrolls 486 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Independence Community College?
Independence Community College graduates 19% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Independence Community College a public or private college?
Independence Community College is a Public institution.
Where is Independence Community College located?
Independence Community College is located in Independence, Kansas.
What programs does Independence Community College offer?
Independence Community College offers 17 distinct programs. The most popular include Liberal Arts, Practical Nursing, Medical Assisting.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Independence Community College?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Independence Community College is 16:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.

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