Colby Community College vs. Cowley College

Comparable Facts

Compare Colby Community College in Colby, KS with Cowley County Community College in Arkansas City, KS on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Cowley County Community College is larger than Colby Community College based on total student enrollment (2,235 students vs. 1,409 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Colby Community College is located in Colby, KS (Remote Town setting); Cowley County Community College is in Arkansas City, KS (Distant Town setting).
• Colby Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Cowley County Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Colby Community College 18:1; Cowley County Community College 16:1.

Colby Community College vs. Cowley College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Colby Community College or Cowley College? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Cowley County Community College than Colby Community College ($7,307 vs. $9,230).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Cowley County Community College are 22.9% lower than at Colby Community College ($6,600 vs. $8,562).
• Cowley County Community College is 18.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Colby Community College (about $810 more per year; $5,100.00 vs. $4,290.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 13.2% higher at Cowley College than at Colby Community College (about $770 more per year; $6,600.00 vs. $5,830.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Cowley County Community College than at Colby Community College (93% vs. 77%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Colby Community College students is 0.5% larger than aid received by Cowley County Community College students ($6,700 vs. $6,665).

Colby Community College vs. Cowley College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Colby Community College or Cowley College? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Cowley College and Colby Community College.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Colby Community College - Open admission; Cowley College - Open admission.
• Accepted freshman Colby Community College students have a 0.02 point higher average high school GPA (2.96) than students at Cowley College (2.94).

Colby Community College vs. Cowley College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Colby Community College and Cowley College? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• Graduates from Cowley County Community College earn a median of about $700 more per year than Colby Community College graduates about ten years after starting college ($36,300 vs. $35,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Colby Community College graduates have a $1,500 lower median loan debt than Cowley College graduates ($6,500 vs. $8,000).
• Among borrowers, Colby Community College graduates have an estimated $15 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Cowley College graduates ($67 vs. $82).
• More Colby Community College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Cowley College students, three years after graduation. (61% vs. 34%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.