Cowley College vs. Independence Community College

Comparable Facts

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

Cowley County Community College is larger than Independence Community College based on total student enrollment (2,235 students vs. 764 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Cowley College vs. Independence Community College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cowley College or Independence Community 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 Independence Community College than Cowley College ($3,738 vs. $7,307).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Cowley County Community College are 8.3% lower than at Independence Community College ($6,600 vs. $7,200).
• Cowley County Community College is 7.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Independence Community College (about $360 more per year; $5,100.00 vs. $4,740.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 33.3% higher at Cowley College than at Independence Community College (about $1,650 more per year; $6,600.00 vs. $4,950.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Cowley County Community College than at Independence Community College (93% vs. 90%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Independence Community College students is 13.3% larger than aid received by Cowley County Community College students ($7,549 vs. $6,665).

Cowley College vs. Independence Community College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Cowley College or Independence Community 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 Independence Community College and Cowley College.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Cowley College - Open admission; Independence Community College - Open admission.

Cowley College vs. Independence Community College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Cowley College and Independence Community 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 $7,000 more per year than Independence Community College graduates about ten years after starting college ($36,300 vs. $29,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Independence Community College graduates have a $2,803 lower median loan debt than Cowley College graduates ($5,197 vs. $8,000).
• Among borrowers, Independence Community College graduates have an estimated $29 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Cowley College graduates ($53 vs. $82).
• More Independence Community College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Cowley College students, three years after graduation. (37% 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.