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Kishwaukee College — ROI, Cost & Payback

Public · Malta, IL · 1,936 students

The verdict

Kishwaukee College charges a net price of $4,574/yr after aid — a 2-year total of $9,148. Median earnings ten years after entry are $39,657, below the $48,360 high-school baseline, so on this institution-wide metric the degree does not clear its cost. Program choice is what changes that. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)

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On institution-wide earnings, Kishwaukee College does not clear its cost — it ranks #69 of 116 Illinois colleges we track by ROI. The specific program you pick moves this more than the school average.

$4,574
Net price / yr
Scorecard, 2026
$39,657
Median earnings, 10 yrs
Scorecard, 2026
Payback
Our math, 2026
Admission rate
Scorecard, 2026
Kishwaukee College: cost, earnings and payback
MeasureValueSource
Net price (after aid)$4,574/yrScorecard, 2026
Total net cost (2 yrs)$9,148our math
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry$39,657Scorecard, 2026
Earnings premium over HS baseline$-8,703/yrour math
Median debt (completers)$9,395Scorecard, 2026
Paybackdoes not clearour math
20-year net return$-183,208our math

College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.

How we compute this. Payback = total net cost ÷ annual earnings premium, where the premium is median earnings 10 years after entry minus the $48,360 baseline (BLS 2024 median for a high-school-diploma worker 25+). Total net cost = net price × 2 years. We do not discount future dollars. The institution-wide earnings figure blends every major — a specific program's payback can be far better or worse. Full method on the methodology page.

Kishwaukee College: frequently asked questions

Is Kishwaukee College worth the cost?
On institution-wide earnings, the degree does not clear its cost: graduates earn a median $39,657, at or below the $48,360 high-school baseline. The field you study matters far more here than the school average — a high-paying major can flip the math.
How long does a Kishwaukee College degree take to pay off?
On institution-wide earnings it does not pay back, because median earnings sit at or below the $48,360 high-school baseline. A specific high-ROI program can still pay off.
How much does Kishwaukee College cost after financial aid?
The median net price is $4,574/yr — about $9,148 over 2 years. That is what the typical aided student actually pays after grants and scholarships, not the published sticker price.
How does Kishwaukee College compare to other Illinois colleges?
It ranks #69 of 116 Illinois colleges we track by payback. Its $39,657 median earnings trail the national median of $43,552, and its $4,574 net price is below the national median of $16,906.