Why This Matters

  • 32 TWO-YEAR ASSOCIATE DEGREE PROGRAMS AVAILABLE IN KANSAS

    According to College Navigator, there are 32 programs that grant two-year associate degrees in Kansas.

  • $3,489 WORTH OF TUITION FEES AT PUBLIC IN-DISTRICT COMMUNITY COLLEGES

    Statistics collected by College Board show that Kansas students paid an average of $3,489 in tuition and fees for public, in-district community college during the 2022-23 school year.

  • 80.6% OF STUDENTS IN TWO-YEAR PROGRAMS RECEIVED FINANCIAL AID

    The National Center for Education Statistics revealed that, during the 2019-20 school year, 80.6% of students attending two-year institutions received financial aid. This is equivalent to 452,493 students.

Our Research

This list features some of the best community colleges in Kansas. Each school featured is a nonprofit, accredited institution — either public or private — with a high standard of academic quality for post-secondary institutions. We included small, midsize, and large colleges as well as trade, technical, and vocational programs. Next, we compared this comprehensive list to a list of aggregated college rankings from reputable publications like the U.S. News & World Report among others to simplify a student’s college search. We pored through these rankings so students don’t have to.

The colleges on our list are accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), a reputable organization that examines objectives, quality and overall effectiveness of education programs throughout the United States.

We evaluated each school on tuition costs, admission, retention and graduation rates, faculty, and reputation as well as the student resources provided for students. Then we calculated the Intelligent Score on a scale of 0 to 100. Read more about our ranking methodology.

The Top 50 Community Colleges in Kansas

Best Community Colleges In Kansas Badge 2023
01
Intelligent Pick
Coffeyville Community College
01
Best for Small Business Owners
Seward County Community College
01
Best Student Activities
Dodge City Community College
01
Best for Dual Enrollment
Hutchinson Community College
01
Highest Graduation Rate
Colby Community College
01
Best for Technical Education
Garden City Community College
01
Best Tutoring Services
Johnson County Community College
01
Most Locations
Cloud County Community College
01
Best for Online Learning
Butler Community College
01
Best Academic Resources
Kansas City Kansas Community College
01

Neosho County Community College
01

Flint Hills Technical College
01

Cowley College
01

Fort Scott Community College
01

Highland Community College
01

Barton Community College
01

Independence Community College
01

North Central Kansas Technical College
01

Manhattan Area Technical College
01

Salina Area Technical College
01

Pratt Community College
01

Northwest Kansas Technical College
01

WSU Tech
01

Allen Community College

What You Should Know About Graduating From Community College in Kansas

As you look through different community colleges, you should consider your salary goals and focus on careers that align with these goals. In May 2021, the top five highest paying careers for associate degree holders in Kansas were air traffic controllers, funeral home managers, radiation therapists, diagnostic medical sonographers, and dental hygienists.

The job market can be competitive, especially for new graduates. Job seekers in Kansas should consider fields that tend to have high levels of employment. Occupations that require an associate degree and have the most annual job openings for the next decade are paralegal and legal assistants, physical therapy assistants, preschool teachers (excluding special education), radiologic technologists, and dental hygienists.

While some occupations are expected to grow in terms of employment, others will decline over the next ten years. Jobs projected to decline for associate degree holders in Kansas include broadcast technicians, radio/cellular tower equipment installers and repairers, embalmers, morticians, and human resources assistants.

What’s Next?

As you prepare for community college, you should consider how you plan to fund your education. For those interested in financial aid, we’ve put together a list of federal and state resources that review the scholarships available to associate degree students in Kansas.

  • Kansas Department of Education. The Kansas Department of Education helps students obtain funding for higher education by connecting them to loan programs, state scholarships, and general budgeting information.
  • Federal Student Aid. Around $120 billion in scholarships, grants, and loans is distributed annually by the U.S. Department of Education’s office of Federal Student Aid. To see if you qualify, simply visit the FAFSA4caster. You can also apply through the online FAFSA form.
  • CareerOneStop. This site, sponsored by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, connects students to resources for scholarships and grants. Students can access details about award amounts, application requirements, and deadlines for scholarships available in their state. It also lets users filter searches by degree type.