Career Training Path › Kansas › Cowley County Community College
Cowley County Community College
Arkansas City, Kansas · Public community college · Training programs available:
Address: 125 S 2nd St, Arkansas City, KS 67005 · Phone: (620) 442-0430 · School website ↗ · Verify on College Scorecard ↗
No accreditor sanctions in the last 36 months
Cowley County Community College is a public trade school in Arkansas City, Kansas, offering CNA classes, EMT training, and welding programs, accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Per the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, Cowley County Community College has a 44.7% completion rate, below the Kansas state average of 57.3%, with median graduate debt of $8,000 and median earnings of $37,723 ten years after entry.
Annual cost of attendance is not reported for this campus in federal data; federal financial aid including Pell Grants can be used here, and 35.2% of students receive Pell Grants.
What these trades pay once you're working
| Occupation | Starting (10th pct) | Median | Experienced (75th) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nursing assistants | $32,180 | $38,010 | $44,170 |
| Emergency medical technicians | $28,560 | $35,780 | $39,060 |
| Welders, cutters, solderers and brazers | $37,790 | $49,410 | $59,200 |
| Medical records specialists | $36,680 | $48,160 | $59,130 |
| Hairdressers, hairstylists and cosmetologists | $21,910 | $29,710 | $48,010 |
| Automotive service technicians and mechanics | $31,970 | $47,790 | $63,000 |
| Machinists | $38,240 | $51,220 | $61,450 |
| Phlebotomists | $34,410 | $39,100 | $46,540 |
| Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses | $49,780 | $61,760 | $69,470 |
| Construction laborers | $31,500 | $44,840 | $49,210 |
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wages for everyone employed in the occupation in Kansas (May 2025; national where the state figure is not published). The program table below shows what this campus's own graduates earned in their first year, whatever job they took.
Trade programs at this campus
| Program | Credential | Grads / yr | Earnings, yr 1 | Earnings, yr 2 | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants | Certificate, under 300 hours | 116 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Precision Metal Working | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 57 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 54 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | Certificate, 1–2 years | 30 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | Associate degree | 24 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | Certificate, 1–2 years | 23 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Precision Metal Working | Certificate, 1–2 years | 23 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | Associate degree | 20 | not reported | $23,456 | not reported |
| Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services | Certificate, 1–2 years | 13 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians | Certificate, 1–2 years | 13 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Precision Metal Working | Associate degree | 5 | not reported | $30,771 | not reported |
| Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions | Certificate, under 300 hours | 4 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services | Associate degree | 4 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Precision Metal Working | Certificate, 1–2 years | 4 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Precision Metal Working | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 4 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians | Associate degree | 3 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants | Certificate, under 300 hours | 2 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Precision Metal Working | Associate degree | 2 | not reported | $30,771 | not reported |
| Carpenters | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 1 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
Earnings are median wages and self-employment income reported to the IRS (W-2 and Schedule SE) for graduates who received federal aid and were working and not enrolled, measured in the calendar year after finishing. They are pay only: health insurance, retirement contributions and other benefits are not included.
Graduates per year from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) 2022-23 Completions survey. Earnings and debt are College Scorecard field-of-study medians for graduates of this program at this campus (reported at the 4-digit program level, so closely related programs share a figure); "not reported" means too few graduates were counted to publish a figure.
About this school
Cowley County Community College is a public trade and career training campus in Arkansas City, Kansas, located in a distant-town setting. The school is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, and federal financial aid (FAFSA, Pell Grants) can be used here because it participates in Title IV programs. Across 19 program families, the campus awards the most credentials in CNA classes (116), EMT and paramedic training (108), and welding schools (85), alongside offerings in medical billing and coding, cosmetology, auto mechanics, CNC machining, phlebotomy, LPN programs, and construction trades.
On outcomes, Cowley's completion rate is 44.7%, which is below the Kansas state average of 57.3%. Graduates carry a median debt of $8,000, and median earnings 10 years after entry are $37,723. About 35.2% of students receive Pell Grants, indicating a meaningful share of students from lower-income backgrounds. Annual cost of attendance is not reported for this campus in federal data.
This campus's program lineup — heavy on shorter certificate paths like CNA, EMT, and welding — may suit students seeking direct entry into hands-on trades rather than long degree tracks, though specific program lengths are not detailed here and should be confirmed directly with the school. Career changers considering enrollment should verify current accreditation status with the Higher Learning Commission and review official outcome data on the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard before applying.
Questions students ask
What trade and career programs does this campus offer?
Cowley County Community College offers 19 program families, with the most completions in CNA classes, EMT and paramedic training, and welding schools. Other offerings include medical billing and coding, cosmetology, auto mechanics, CNC machining, phlebotomy, LPN programs, and construction trades.
Is this school accredited, and by whom?
Yes, the school is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, and its accreditation status is listed as accredited.
Can I use federal financial aid (FAFSA, Pell Grants) at this school?
Yes, this school participates in Title IV federal aid programs, so students can use FAFSA-based aid including Pell Grants. About 35.2% of students at this campus receive Pell Grants.
What share of students finish their program here, and how does that compare to the state?
The completion rate is 44.7%, which is below the Kansas state average of 57.3%.
How much debt do graduates of this school typically carry?
Graduates carry a median debt of $8,000, per federal data.
What do graduates of this school earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entry are $37,723, per federal data.
How much does it cost to attend for a year?
Annual cost of attendance is not reported for this campus in federal data; contact the school at (620) 442-0430 or visit its website for current tuition.
Is this a public, non-profit, or for-profit school, and why does that matter?
This is a public school, which often means lower tuition for state residents and eligibility for state-supported programs, though specific cost data is not reported here.
How long do the programs here take to complete?
Program lengths are not reported for this campus in federal data; contact the school directly to confirm program duration.
How do I verify this school's accreditation and outcomes myself?
You can confirm accreditation with the Higher Learning Commission and review official outcome data on the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard at https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/school/?154952.
Is this school a good fit for an adult changing careers?
The campus offers shorter career-focused programs such as CNA, EMT, and welding, which may appeal to adults seeking hands-on trade entry, though specific scheduling or format for career changers is not reported in this data.
How do I contact the school or apply?
You can reach Cowley County Community College at (620) 442-0430 or through its website at https://www.cowley.edu/.
How does this campus compare with other schools offering the same trade nearby?
Comparative data on nearby schools is not reported in this dataset; check the College Scorecard link for side-by-side comparisons.
Nearby trade and career schools in Kansas
- Butler Community CollegeEl Dorado, KS · 32% completion
- Heartland Welding AcademyAndover, KS · 92% completion
- Sami Halaseh InstituteAndover, KS · 73% completion
- Blair Trucking IncorporatedHarper, KS
- Wichita State University-Campus of Applied Sciences and TechnologyWichita, KS · 43% completion
- Johnson County Community CollegeOverland Park, KS · 31% completion
- Kansas City Kansas Community CollegeKansas City, KS · 42% completion
- Hutchinson Community CollegeHutchinson, KS · 54% completion
See all trade and career schools in Kansas or search by ZIP code.
Data: Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) 2022-23 Completions survey; College Scorecard June 2026; Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs (DAPIP), September 2026. Figures are the U.S. Department of Education's official measures, not Career Training Path's opinion. Tuition, schedules and program availability change — confirm with the school before enrolling.