About West Kentucky Community and Technical College
West Kentucky Community and Technical College is a public institution offering associate degrees based in Paducah, Kentucky. It enrolls 2,851 students (a mid-sized 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.
AccreditorSouthern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
Academic CalendarSemester
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
77/100
UCD Score · 2-Year
Outcomes60
Value80
Affordability63
Selectivity—
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
As a two-year college, West Kentucky Community and 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 West Kentucky Community and 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 $5,353 per year. That's well below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$5,353
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
33%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
9%
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)
$4,728
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$6,432
Room & Board (off-campus)
$8,814
Books & Supplies
$1,268
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$3,602
Total Cost of Attendance
$14,084
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
$4,345
$30,001 – $48,000
$4,561
$48,001 – $75,000
$6,414
$75,001 – $110,000
$9,291
Over $110,000
$12,695
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.
$1,50010%percentile
$3,00025%percentile
$8,986Medianpercentile
$12,21375%percentile
$21,00090%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 $6,437
↓ $2,549
No Pell $5,500
↓ $3,486
Dependent students $5,500
↓ $3,486
Independent students $7,458
↓ $1,528
Female students $6,500
↓ $2,486
Male students $5,500
↓ $3,486
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $5,250, less than completers ($8,986), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
30% of full-time students who enrolled at West Kentucky Community and Technical College graduate within six years, and 71% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
30%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
71%
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 West Kentucky Community and Technical College earn a median of $34,891 ten years after first enrolling. That's below the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$34,891
Earning > $25K
58%
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
$26,400
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$40,300
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$27,900
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$36,200
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 $13,900, about 34% 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 ↑
20.9 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Moderate. Only 69% of graduates are paying down principal seven years out.
Who Studies Here
West Kentucky Community and Technical College is home to 2,851 students, a mid-sized community. Some distinctive traits: 48% are first-generation college students, 46% study part-time.
Total Enrolled
2,851
Part-Time
46%
First-Generation
48%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 77.3%2,205
Black 8.8%252
Hispanic 7.0%199
Other 5.0%141
Asian 1.0%28
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at West Kentucky Community and Technical College. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Small CityPaducah, Kentucky
Housing
Commuter campusNo on-campus housing
Adult Learners
30%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NAIAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
What You Can Study
West Kentucky Community and Technical College offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
47 distinct programs across
15 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 West Kentucky Community and Technical College is 18:1, on the higher side.
Student : Faculty
18:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$5,162
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Avg Faculty Salary
$48,636
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
109 instructional faculty across 5 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
31
28%
$58,881
Associate Professors
18
17%
$49,092
Assistant Professors
30
28%
$46,076
Instructors
29
27%
$40,404
Lecturers
1
1%
$38,394
Pros & Cons of West Kentucky Community and Technical College
A quick at-a-glance summary of how West Kentucky Community and 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
Low typical debt at graduation
First-gen-friendly student body
CONS
Class sizes are on the higher side
Low completion rate, many students don't graduate within six years
Modest first-year retention
Below-average post-graduation earnings
Best for:
Based on the data, West Kentucky Community and 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; working adults or students needing part-time study options.
Frequently Asked Questions about West Kentucky Community and Technical College
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about West Kentucky Community and Technical College.
Is West Kentucky Community and Technical College hard to get into?
West Kentucky Community and Technical College has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted.
What is the acceptance rate at West Kentucky Community and Technical College?
West Kentucky Community and Technical College has an acceptance rate of 0%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does West Kentucky Community and Technical College cost?
The average net price after aid at West Kentucky Community and Technical College is $5,353 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is West Kentucky Community and Technical College worth it?
Strong return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $34,891 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $5,353 per year. That's roughly 6.5x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is West Kentucky Community and Technical College known for?
West Kentucky Community and Technical College is best known for its programs in Practical Nursing, Liberal Arts, Precision Metal Working. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do West Kentucky Community and Technical College graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering West Kentucky Community and Technical College are $34,891, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is West Kentucky Community and Technical College accredited?
Yes. West Kentucky Community and Technical College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
How many students attend West Kentucky Community and Technical College?
West Kentucky Community and Technical College enrolls 2,851 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at West Kentucky Community and Technical College?
West Kentucky Community and Technical College graduates 30% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is West Kentucky Community and Technical College a public or private college?
West Kentucky Community and Technical College is a Public institution.
Where is West Kentucky Community and Technical College located?
West Kentucky Community and Technical College is located in Paducah, Kentucky.
What programs does West Kentucky Community and Technical College offer?
West Kentucky Community and Technical College offers 47 distinct programs. The most popular include Practical Nursing, Liberal Arts, Precision Metal Working.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at West Kentucky Community and Technical College?
The student-to-faculty ratio at West Kentucky Community and Technical College is 18:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
Related Colleges in Kentucky
Other colleges in Kentucky 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.
Practical Nursing
Liberal Arts
Precision Metal Working
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