Public Associate Strong 78/100

Salina Area Technical College

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

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Salina, Kansas

About Salina Area Technical College

Salina Area Technical College is a public institution offering associate degrees based in Salina, Kansas. It enrolls 330 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
68.5%
Net Price
$6,468
Median Earnings (10yr)
$42,175
Enrollment
330
Student : Faculty
11:1

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
78/100
UCD Score · 2-Year
Outcomes 75
Value 80
Affordability 40
Selectivity

Admissions & Acceptance Rate

As a two-year college, Salina Area Technical 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 Salina Area Technical 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 $6,468 per year. That's well below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.

Average Net Price
$6,468
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
15%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
12%
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
$7,128
Room & Board (off-campus)
$6,309
Books & Supplies
$2,336
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$4,739
Total Cost of Attendance
$14,642

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
    $6,078
  • $30,001 – $48,000
    $5,602
  • $48,001 – $75,000
    $5,958
  • $75,001 – $110,000
    $6,061
  • Over $110,000
    $12,188

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.

$1,750
10% percentile
$2,750
25% percentile
$7,000
Median percentile
$6,503
75% percentile
$11,543
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 $5,500 ↓ $1,500
No Pell $5,500 ↓ $1,500
Dependent students $5,500 ↓ $1,500
Independent students $6,500 ↓ $500
Female students $5,500 ↓ $1,500
Male students $5,500 ↓ $1,500
Pell recipients: 16.2% (1,132 students)No Pell: 16.2% (1,132 students)Dependent students: 16.2% (1,132 students)Independent students: 19.1% (1,338 students)Female students: 16.2% (1,132 students)Male students: 16.2% (1,132 students)Overall Median$7,000
Worth knowing: Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $4,750, less than completers ($7,000), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.

Graduation Rate & Retention

68% of full-time students who enrolled at Salina Area Technical College graduate within six years, and 73% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

6-Year Graduation Rate
68%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
73%
Returning for their second year

After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes

According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Salina Area Technical College earn a median of $42,175 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.

Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$42,175
Earning > $25K
75%
10 yrs after entry

Earnings Growth After Graduation

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

$38,500$39,500$40,500$41,500$42,5006 yrs8 yrs10 yrs

Earnings by Demographic

Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.

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 9.2 pts across 6 years
64.8%1yr65.7%3yr69%5yr73.9%7yr
What this signals: Strong. 74% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.

Who Studies Here

Salina Area Technical College is home to 330 students, an intimate, close-knit community. Some distinctive traits: 49% are first-generation college students.

Total Enrolled
330
Part-Time
34%
First-Generation
49%

Race & Ethnicity Breakdown

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

GroupShareStudents
White 74.9% 247
Hispanic 17.0% 56
Other 4.9% 16
Black 2.4% 8
Asian 0.9% 3
White: 74.9% (247 students)Hispanic: 17.0% (56 students)Other: 4.9% (16 students)Black: 2.4% (8 students)Asian: 0.9% (3 students)Total330

Student Life & Campus Culture

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

Setting
Town: Remote Salina, Kansas
Housing
Commuter campus No on-campus housing
Adult Learners
15% of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NAIA athletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semester scheduling structure

What You Can Study

Salina Area Technical College offers a varied set of programs: 23 distinct programs across 8 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.

Faculty & Resources

The student-to-faculty ratio at Salina Area Technical College is 11:1, close to the national average.

Student : Faculty
11:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$14,323
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$945,319
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$57,927
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% $57,927

Pros & Cons of Salina Area Technical College

A quick at-a-glance summary of how Salina Area Technical 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
  • Small classes (low student-faculty ratio)
  • Tight-knit, close community feel
  • Above-average graduation rate
  • Low typical debt at graduation
CONS
  • Fewer clubs, activities, and social options
  • Modest first-year retention
  • Predominantly serves middle- and upper-income families
Best for: Based on the data, Salina Area Technical 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 Salina Area Technical College

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

Is Salina Area Technical College hard to get into?
Salina Area Technical College has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted.
What is the acceptance rate at Salina Area Technical College?
Salina Area Technical College has an acceptance rate of 0%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does Salina Area Technical College cost?
The average net price after aid at Salina Area Technical College is $6,468 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Salina Area Technical College worth it?
Strong return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $42,175 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $6,468 per year. That's roughly 6.5x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Salina Area Technical College known for?
Salina Area Technical College is best known for its programs in Practical Nursing, Health Aides/Attendants/Orderlies, Vehicle Maintenance. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Salina Area Technical College graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Salina Area Technical College are $42,175, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Salina Area Technical College accredited?
Yes. Salina Area Technical College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
How many students attend Salina Area Technical College?
Salina Area Technical College enrolls 330 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Salina Area Technical College?
Salina Area Technical College graduates 68% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Salina Area Technical College a public or private college?
Salina Area Technical College is a Public institution.
Where is Salina Area Technical College located?
Salina Area Technical College is located in Salina, Kansas.
What programs does Salina Area Technical College offer?
Salina Area Technical College offers 23 distinct programs. The most popular include Practical Nursing, Health Aides/Attendants/Orderlies, Vehicle Maintenance.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Salina Area Technical College?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Salina Area Technical College is 11:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.

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