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Is Independence Community College worth it?
A first pass affordability and outcome read for Independence Community, using national average inputs. Run your own numbers for a personalized score.
Worth-It Score
Heavy lift
Independence Community lands in the heavy lift band for a typical family. The combination of $3,265 in yearly net price and $6,115 in median debt asks a lot relative to median earnings of $34,941. For context, Independence Community's net price is about 8% below the typical 2-year, public school. This does not make the school wrong for every student, but it does mean the price deserves a closer test.
Is the price fair?
Compared to 791 similar 2-year, public schools
This school
$6,956
/yrAverage school like this
$7,555
/yrThis helps your Worth-It Score
You'd pay about $599 less per year than the typical student at a similar school. Over 4 years that's roughly $2,000 in savings.
Score breakdown
The public version of the score weighs affordability, after graduation outcomes, and repayment burden.
Affordability
40% weight
The yearly net price sits in a range that leaves more room for family cash flow and lower borrowing.
Outcome
40% weight
The outcome data does not create enough margin to fully offset the cost.
Repayment
20% weight
Median debt stays in a more comfortable repayment range for a typical graduate.
The numbers behind the score
Median net price per year
$3,265
Median earnings 10 years out
$34,941
Median debt at graduation
$6,115
Graduation rate
30%
At Independence Community, a typical graduate carries about $6,115 in student debt and earns roughly $34,941 ten years after enrolling. On a standard 10-year repayment plan, that works out to about $70 per month, or 2% of pre-tax income. That sits inside a borrower comfort range for many graduates.
How earnings compare to a high school diploma
Graduates earn $6,859 less than the typical high school graduate ($41,800) ten years after entering this school. A federal rule finalized in July 2026 ties undergraduate student-loan eligibility to a comparison like this one, with the first calculations expected in 2027.
56% of former students here out-earned that benchmark ten years after entry, per College Scorecard.
Context, not a federal determination: the official test will use earnings measured four years after completion and thresholds the Department of Education has not yet published, which may vary by state. Our figure is College Scorecard median earnings ten years after entry. How this works
What this means for your family
Independence Community is a two year school in Independence, KS. For many families, the real question is not just sticker price but what this path unlocks next, whether that is direct employment, transfer, or a lower cost route into a four year degree.
Similar schools worth comparing
These schools share a similar sector, geography, or price range.
2-year
Dodge City Community
Dodge City, KS
Worth-It Score: 60/100
Median net price: $4,068
2-year
Coffeyville Community
Coffeyville, KS
Worth-It Score: 60/100
Median net price: $4,957
2-year
Fort Scott Community
Fort Scott, KS
Worth-It Score: 60/100
Median net price: $5,586
2-year
Labette Community
Parsons, KS
Worth-It Score: 60/100
Median net price: $5,939
2-year
Salina Area Technical
Salina, KS
Worth-It Score: 74/100
Median net price: $6,468
Common questions about Independence Community
The median net price at Independence Community is $3,265 per year. That is the average yearly price after typical grant aid for students in the public federal data, not the published sticker price.
Get your personalized Worth-It score
National averages are a starting point. Plug in your actual aid offer, intended major, and family situation to get a score that reflects your specific picture.
Looking at community colleges options in Kansas? See the most affordable community colleges in Kansas →
The Worth-It Score weighs affordability (40%), after graduation outcomes (40%), and repayment burden (20%). Underlying data points come from publicly available federal higher education reporting. See full methodology →
Now work out how to pay for it, cheapest money first.
A Worth-It Score tells you whether the price is justified. The 2026-27 funding guide covers the borrowing order, what changed on July 1, 2026, and the current limits.
Open the 2026-27 funding guide →