Public Associate Strong 70/100

Seward County Community College

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

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Liberal, Kansas

About Seward County Community College

Seward County Community College is a public institution offering associate degrees based in Liberal, Kansas. It enrolls 1,166 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.

Acceptance
Open
Graduation
25.1%
Net Price
$6,717
Median Earnings (10yr)
$41,445
Enrollment
1,166
Student : Faculty
15:1

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
70/100
UCD Score · 2-Year
Outcomes 53
Value 77
Affordability 44
Selectivity

Admissions & Acceptance Rate

As a two-year college, Seward County 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 Seward County 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 $6,717 per year. That's well below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.

Average Net Price
$6,717
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
21%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
5%
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)
$4,032
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$5,408
Room & Board (on-campus)
$7,780
Room & Board (off-campus)
$8,912
Books & Supplies
$1,470
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$5,589
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$5,589
Total Cost of Attendance
$12,629

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
    $6,581
  • $30,001 – $48,000
    $9,065
  • $48,001 – $75,000
    $8,979

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.

$1,526
10% percentile
$2,400
25% percentile
$6,500
Median percentile
$6,500
75% percentile
$9,500
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 $4,500 ↓ $2,000
No Pell $5,500 ↓ $1,000
Dependent students $4,500 ↓ $2,000
Independent students $6,350 ↓ $150
Female students $5,375 ↓ $1,125
Male students $4,500 ↓ $2,000
Pell recipients: 14.6% (952 students)No Pell: 17.9% (1,164 students)Dependent students: 14.6% (952 students)Independent students: 20.7% (1,343 students)Female students: 17.5% (1,137 students)Male students: 14.6% (952 students)Overall Median$6,500
Worth knowing: Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $3,500, less than completers ($6,500), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.

Graduation Rate & Retention

25% of full-time students who enrolled at Seward County Community College graduate within six years, and 66% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

6-Year Graduation Rate
25%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
66%
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 Seward County Community College earn a median of $41,445 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.

Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$41,445
Earning > $25K
69%
10 yrs after entry

Earnings Growth After Graduation

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

$37,000$38,000$39,000$41,000$42,0006 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
$31,200

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

Male graduates
$50,700

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


By Family Income at Entry

Family income (lowest third)
$33,600

Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.

Family income (middle third)
$40,400

Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.

Family income (highest third)
$40,200

Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.

The gender gap: Male graduates earn $19,500, about 38% 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 13.1 pts across 6 years
68.3%1yr73.6%3yr75.5%5yr81.3%7yr
What this signals: Strong. 81% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.

Who Studies Here

Seward County Community College is home to 1,166 students, a small, close-knit community. Some distinctive traits: 57% are first-generation college students.

Total Enrolled
1,166
Part-Time
37%
First-Generation
57%

Race & Ethnicity Breakdown

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

GroupShareStudents
Hispanic 57.3% 668
White 24.4% 285
International 7.1% 83
Black 3.3% 38
Other 3.0% 35
Asian 2.1% 25
Hispanic: 57.3% (668 students)White: 24.4% (285 students)International: 7.1% (83 students)Black: 3.3% (38 students)Other: 3.0% (35 students)Asian: 2.1% (25 students)Total1,166

Student Life & Campus Culture

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

Setting
Town: Remote Liberal, Kansas
Housing
Partly residential 240 beds available
Adult Learners
17% of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAA athletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semester scheduling structure
Designation
Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI)

What You Can Study

Seward County Community College offers a varied set of programs: 25 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.

7 Programs
1 Program
4 Programs
6 Programs
3 Programs
1 Program

Faculty & Resources

The student-to-faculty ratio at Seward County Community College is 15:1, close to the national average.

Student : Faculty
15:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$6,756
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$6.2M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$58,418
9-month equivalent across all ranks

Faculty by Rank

60 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 60 100% $58,418

Pros & Cons of Seward County Community College

A quick at-a-glance summary of how Seward County 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
  • 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, Seward County 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 Seward County Community College

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

Is Seward County Community College hard to get into?
Seward County Community College has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted.
What is the acceptance rate at Seward County Community College?
Seward County Community College has an acceptance rate of 0%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does Seward County Community College cost?
The average net price after aid at Seward County Community College is $6,717 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Seward County Community College worth it?
Strong return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $41,445 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $6,717 per year. That's roughly 6.2x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Seward County Community College known for?
Seward County Community College is best known for its programs in Liberal Arts, Practical Nursing, Nursing. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Seward County Community College graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Seward County Community College are $41,445, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Seward County Community College accredited?
Yes. Seward County Community College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
How many students attend Seward County Community College?
Seward County Community College enrolls 1,166 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Seward County Community College?
Seward County Community College graduates 25% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Seward County Community College a public or private college?
Seward County Community College is a Public institution.
Where is Seward County Community College located?
Seward County Community College is located in Liberal, Kansas.
What programs does Seward County Community College offer?
Seward County Community College offers 25 distinct programs. The most popular include Liberal Arts, Practical Nursing, Nursing.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Seward County Community College?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Seward County Community College is 15:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.

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