Public
Accredited · Higher Learning Commission
Chicago, Illinois
City Colleges of Chicago-Kennedy-King College — Admission Snapshot 2026
A complete at-a-glance picture of every metric that matters for your 2026 application
$11,382Annual Cost
$28,467Grad Salary
37.8%Pell Grant
Selectivity
Open Enrollment
Institution Type
Public
Campus
Main Campus
Accredited By
Higher Learning Commission
Avg Net Price
$4,902
Need-Based Aid
37.8% receive Pell
City Colleges of Chicago-Kennedy-King College, founded in 1935, offers programs in culinary arts, healthcare, and public safety. The campus includes professional-grade kitchens.
KKC is unranked but renowned for its culinary program. Its urban location provides access to Chicago's world-class restaurant and hospitality industry.
City Colleges of Chicago-Kennedy-King College Acceptance Rate
City Colleges of Chicago-Kennedy-King College runs an open-access admission policy. With a 100% acceptance rate, the focus is on getting qualified students in, not filtering them out.
What to Expect
- Eligibility First: A high school diploma or GED typically clears the main bar.
- Plan Ahead for Placement: Placement tests can shape which courses you start in. They are worth preparing for.
Selectivity at a Glance
Open Enrollment
Selectivity scale: Open Enrollment — rate not reported
Most Selective (0%)Open Enrollment (100%)
Slightly below-average GPA? A strong test score or clear leadership track record can still keep you competitive.
Source: IPEDS & College Scorecard (Nov 2025).
City Colleges of Chicago-Kennedy-King College Application Deadlines & Admission Dates 2026
City Colleges of Chicago-Kennedy-King College follows a Rolling Admissions policy, meaning applications are reviewed as they arrive and there is no single fixed deadline.
Key Admission Dates
Rolling Admissions — Apply Anytime
City Colleges of Chicago-Kennedy-King College reviews applications continuously throughout the year. Seats and scholarships are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, so applying early gives you a significant advantage for both admission and financial aid.
Deadlines are verified from official institutional sources but may change each cycle. Always confirm final dates on the official website.
Check Your Admission Chances at City Colleges of Chicago-Kennedy-King College
Admission Chance Predictor
Real-Time Sensitive Analysis — based on City Colleges of Chicago-Kennedy-King College's verified institutional data
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Calculating Profile...
Adjust the sliders to see how every decimal point affects your outcome.
Your SAT Score 1200
Your Unweighted GPA 3.00
⚠️ Note: Predicting based on regional averages as this institution does not publicly report full score datasets.
Calculated via College Portal's Human-Intelligence (HI) Methodology & Editorial Standards. Verified by Sohaib Ahmad Khan.
City Colleges of Chicago-Kennedy-King College Test Requirements
Standardized scores still matter here: aim for the middle 50% range of the 2026 admitted class below, and if City Colleges of Chicago-Kennedy-King College is test-optional, a high score submitted voluntarily still helps with merit scholarships.
Can I Get Into City Colleges of Chicago-Kennedy-King College Without SAT or ACT?
City Colleges of Chicago-Kennedy-King College's test-score policy isn't published. As a default, submit your score only if it's at or above the state/national average — a below-average score can work against you.
Your 2026 Admissions Roadmap for City Colleges of Chicago-Kennedy-King College
Inclusive Strategy: Success & Transfer
Getting into City Colleges of Chicago-Kennedy-King College is the easy part. What matters next is using placement testing, advising, and available resources to set up a strong first year.
Use the Washburne Institute's real, operating restaurants as your practical audition
Kennedy-King's Washburne Culinary & Hospitality Institute doesn't just teach in kitchens - students staff actual public-facing restaurants (Parrot Cage, Sikia, the seasonal Washburne Caf? at Buckingham Fountain) as part of training. Treat your time in these operations as a real professional reference-builder: the chefs and managers overseeing these restaurants become genuine industry contacts and reference-writers, not just instructors grading a class project.
If construction trades interest you, apply through Dawson Technical Institute specifically
Dawson Technical Institute, affiliated with Kennedy-King but located separately at 3901 S. State, offers direct pipelines into companies like ComEd and Peoples Gas and major trade unions. If you're interested in construction technology or a trades apprenticeship, apply and inquire about Dawson specifically rather than the general Kennedy-King application, since it operates as its own targeted workforce program with distinct employer relationships.
Leverage KKC's designation as CCC's culinary/hospitality hub for College to Careers employer partnerships
Kennedy-King is officially designated as the City Colleges of Chicago's hub for culinary and hospitality education under the College to Careers initiative, which pairs curriculum redesign directly with industry partners. Ask your program advisor specifically which employer partnerships are active this term - these connections are curated by the college precisely to funnel students into local hospitality and culinary jobs, and they change as partnerships evolve.
Use the affiliated French Pastry School connection if pastry is your specific interest
Kennedy-King's affiliation with the French Pastry School gives students interested specifically in pastry and baking arts a more specialized track than the general culinary program. If baking/pastry is your specific goal rather than broad culinary arts, ask your advisor about this affiliated pathway directly, since it isn't the default option within Washburne's broader curriculum.
Expert Insight:
Applicants sometimes think of Kennedy-King's culinary program as classroom-based training like any other community college program - but because students actually staff real, publicly-operating restaurants and caf?s as part of coursework, performance in these roles functions as ongoing professional evaluation, not a one-time practical exam. Treating service shifts casually, rather than as an extension of professional reputation-building, undersells the program's real value.
City Colleges of Chicago-Kennedy-King College Profile
Full Name
City Colleges of Chicago-Kennedy-King College
City
Chicago
State
Illinois
ZIP Code
60621-2709
Type
Public
Campus
Main Campus
Official Website
Accredited By
Higher Learning Commission (NCACHE)
Is a City Colleges of Chicago-Kennedy-King College Degree Worth It?
City Colleges of Chicago-Kennedy-King College offers a rigorous academic environment, but 'worth it' is a personal calculation of cost, program fit, and outcomes. The figures below are a starting point.
The average household income among admitted students is $44,000, with a graduate unemployment rate of 8.73%.
How much does a degree from City Colleges of Chicago-Kennedy-King College Cost?
The sticker price is $11,382/year, but the average net price students actually pay, after Pell and federal grants, is closer to $4,902.
37.8% of students receive a Pell Grant and 3% take federal loans at City Colleges of Chicago-Kennedy-King College. File your FAFSA early and list City Colleges of Chicago-Kennedy-King College as a choice to be considered for both.
How much does a City Colleges of Chicago-Kennedy-King College Graduate earn?
Median earnings 10 years after enrollment (roughly 4–6 years post-graduation) are $28,467. That's somewhat below the U.S. median graduate income of $40,595.
Degree Programs at City Colleges of Chicago-Kennedy-King College
Associate Degree Programs
UG Certificate or Diploma Programs
Frequently Asked Questions About City Colleges of Chicago-Kennedy-King College Admissions
Median earnings for City Colleges of Chicago-Kennedy-King College graduates sit around $28,467 a year.
At about $11,382 a year, City Colleges of Chicago-Kennedy-King College is on the more affordable end.
About 37.8% receive a Pell Grant at City Colleges of Chicago-Kennedy-King College. The odds are moderate and largely income-dependent, but an early FAFSA filing still helps.
City Colleges of Chicago-Kennedy-King College follows Rolling Admissions. Applications are reviewed year-round, so applying early is your best strategy.
Yes, transfers are common. Have transcripts, recommendation letters, and a solid personal statement ready to make your case.
Strong academics, a focused extracurricular profile, and standout essays move the needle most, along with a competitive SAT/ACT score where relevant.
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