Career Training Path › Kansas › Highland Community College
Highland Community College
Highland, Kansas · Public community college · Training programs available:
Address: 606 W Main, Highland, KS 66035 · Phone: (785) 442-6000 · School website ↗ · Verify on College Scorecard ↗
No accreditor sanctions in the last 36 months
Highland Community College is a public trade school in Highland, Kansas offering CNA classes, welding, and auto mechanic programs, accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Highland Community College has a 38.5% completion rate, below the Kansas state average of 57.3%, with median graduate debt of $8,277 and median earnings of $41,291 ten years after entry, per the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Annual cost of attendance is not reported in federal data for Highland Community College; the school participates in Title IV federal aid, and about 20.4% 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 |
| Welders, cutters, solderers and brazers | $37,790 | $49,410 | $59,200 |
| Automotive service technicians and mechanics | $31,970 | $47,790 | $63,000 |
| Electricians | $42,660 | $65,860 | $80,560 |
| Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses | $49,780 | $61,760 | $69,470 |
| Construction laborers | $31,500 | $44,840 | $49,210 |
| Medical assistants | $35,140 | $39,510 | $46,380 |
| HVAC and refrigeration mechanics and installers | $43,660 | $60,460 | $72,830 |
| Emergency medical technicians | $28,560 | $35,780 | $39,060 |
| Medical records specialists | $36,680 | $48,160 | $59,130 |
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 | 224 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Precision Metal Working | Certificate, 1–2 years | 25 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Electrical and Power Transmission Installers | Certificate, 1–2 years | 18 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants | Certificate, 1–2 years | 17 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Carpenters | Certificate, 1–2 years | 15 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians | Certificate, 1–2 years | 15 | $38,008 | not reported | not reported |
| Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services | Certificate, 1–2 years | 13 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians | Certificate, 1–2 years | 10 | $38,008 | not reported | not reported |
| Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services | Certificate, under 300 hours | 2 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician (HAC, HACR, HVAC, HVACR) | Certificate, 1–2 years | 2 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | Associate degree | 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
Highland Community College is a public trade and career campus in Highland, Kansas, accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. Because it participates in Title IV federal aid programs, students here can use FAFSA-based financial aid, including Pell Grants, to help cover costs. The college's most-completed trade programs are CNA classes, welding schools, and auto mechanic schools, among 11 program families offered including electrician, HVAC, EMT training, and medical billing and coding.
Federal data shows a completion rate of 38.5%, which is below the Kansas state average of 57.3%. Graduates who took out loans carried a median debt of $8,277, and median earnings for former students 10 years after entry were $41,291. Annual cost of attendance is not reported for this campus in federal data. About 20.4% of students receive Pell Grants, indicating a meaningful share of low-income enrollment. Total trade program completers numbered 342 against an undergraduate enrollment of 1,279.
This campus, located in a distant rural setting, may suit students seeking shorter, hands-on trade credentials such as CNA or welding certificates rather than longer associate-degree tracks, though program lengths themselves are not detailed here. Career changers considering a return to school should weigh the below-average completion rate against the relatively low median debt levels. Prospective students should verify current accreditation status directly with the Higher Learning Commission and review detailed outcome data on the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard before enrolling, since program-specific costs and schedules are not fully reported in the data available here.
Questions students ask
What trade and career programs does this campus offer?
Highland Community College offers 11 program families, with the most-completed being CNA classes, welding schools, and auto mechanic schools. Other offerings include electrician, HVAC, EMT training, construction trades, and medical billing and coding.
Is this school accredited, and by whom?
Yes, Highland Community College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and is listed as currently accredited.
Can I use federal financial aid (FAFSA, Pell Grants) at this school?
Yes, the school participates in Title IV federal student aid programs, so FAFSA-based aid including Pell Grants can be used.
What share of students finish their program here, and how does that compare to the state?
The completion rate is 38.5%, which is below the Kansas state average of 57.3%.
How much debt do graduates of this school typically carry?
Median debt among graduates is $8,277, according to federal data.
What do graduates of this school earn?
Median earnings for former students 10 years after entry are $41,291.
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 (785) 442-6000 or visit its website for current tuition figures.
Is this a public, non-profit, or for-profit school, and why does that matter?
Highland Community College is a public institution, which typically means lower tuition for state residents and eligibility for state-based support, though specific tuition figures are 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 detailed federal outcome data at the College Scorecard link: https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/school/?155186.
Is this school a good fit for an adult changing careers?
The campus offers shorter certificate-style trade programs like CNA and welding alongside longer options, which may suit career changers, but specific scheduling and format details are not reported in this data.
What license or certification will I need after finishing a program here?
Licensing requirements vary by program and are not detailed in federal data; contact the school at (785) 442-6000 to ask about certification or licensing exams tied to specific programs.
How do I contact the school or apply?
You can reach Highland Community College at (785) 442-6000 or visit https://www.highlandcc.edu/ for application information.
How does this campus compare with other schools offering the same trade nearby?
Comparative data on nearby schools is not included here; prospective students can use the College Scorecard at https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/school/?155186 to compare completion rates, debt, and earnings across institutions.
Nearby trade and career schools in Kansas
- WellSpring School of Allied Health-LawrenceLawrence, KS · 100% completion
- University of KansasLawrence, KS · university
- Dwayne Peaslee Technical Training CenterLawrence, KS
- Johnson County Community CollegeGardner, 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.