For the second straight year, online higher education resource University HQ ranked Colby Community College first for their Best Associate Degrees in Kansas report. Research information came from government websites produced by the National Center for Education Statistics, the Department of Education's College Scorecard, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and independent compensation software and data company Payscale.

The study considered several factors, including:

Cost of tuition – On average, students can take a full course load with fees, room and board for less than $10,000 per year.  

Retention rate – Calculated by the percentage of incoming first-year students who return the following year, the current retention rate at CCC is 65.8%, which ranks second among Kansas community colleges. Renovated housing, financing options, counseling and advising services, and new facilities make Colby an attractive option.  

Graduation Rate – One-on-one advising, free tutoring, and accessible instructors allow students to position themselves for success. Colby's latest graduation rate is 54%, which ranks first in the state, according to the Kansas Board of Regents Community College Data Book

Salary of graduates – CCC offers several programs in high-demand and high-paying fields, so graduates often rank near the top among Kansas peers for their return on investment.  

Loan default rate – Related to the cost of attendance and salaries of graduates, the loan default rate of Colby alumni is 8.11%, significantly lower than the national average of 11%.

Percentage of students receiving financial assistance – Because various federal, institutional, and outside funding options are available, about 90 percent of Colby students receive aid.