Public
Accredited · Higher Learning Commission
Highland, Kansas
Highland Community College — Admission Snapshot 2026
A complete at-a-glance picture of every metric that matters for your 2026 application
$15,854Annual Cost
$41,291Grad Salary
17.2%Pell Grant
Selectivity
Open Enrollment
Institution Type
Public
Campus
Main Campus
Accredited By
Higher Learning Commission
SAT Middle 50%
-40–30
Avg Net Price
$10,388
Need-Based Aid
17.2% receive Pell
Highland Community College is a public institution in Kansas that provides a traditional and supportive collegiate experience, offering a comprehensive range of associate degrees, transfer pathways, and vocational programs. The college is recognized for its commitment to student success, athletic programs, and personalized faculty mentorship. With its focus on high-quality, affordable education, it serves as a strong foundation for students aiming to build professional skills or transition seamlessly into four-year university programs.
Highland Community College Acceptance Rate
Admission at Highland Community College is inclusive by design: 100% of applicants who meet basic eligibility are accepted.
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 — worth preparing for.
Selectivity at a Glance
Open Enrollment
Selectivity scale: Open Enrollment — rate not reported
Most Selective (0%)Open Enrollment (100%)
A GPA a bit under the average isn't disqualifying at this tier — a solid test score or clear leadership record can offset it.
Source: IPEDS & College Scorecard (Nov 2025).
Highland Community College Application Deadlines & Admission Dates 2026
Highland Community 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
Highland Community 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.
💡 The scholarship deadline (Foundation scholarship priority: 2027/03/01) often falls before the regular admission deadline. Submit your application and FAFSA early to be considered for maximum 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 Highland Community College
Admission Chance Predictor
Built from Highland Community College's own verified admissions data — adjust the sliders below
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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.
Highland Community College Test Requirements
Scores aren't just a formality at Highland Community College — landing within or above the 2026 admitted class's middle 50% keeps you fully competitive, even where submission is optional.
Can I Get Into Highland Community College Without SAT or ACT?
Highland Community 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 Highland Community College
Inclusive Strategy: Success & Transfer
Highland Community College's open-access model means the real strategic decisions happen after enrollment: course planning, advising, and whether to transfer later.
Apply to nursing programs through the Atchison Technical Center specifically - not the Highland main campus
Highland Community College's Practical Nursing and LPN-to-RN Bridge programs are located at the Technical Center in Atchison, Kansas, not the historic Highland main campus - a genuinely separate location most prospective students don't realize until they're deep into program research. Direct your nursing program inquiries and visits specifically to the Atchison Technical Center (nursing@highlandcc.edu) rather than the main admissions office, since campus tours of Highland itself won't show you where you'd actually attend nursing classes.
Prepare for a points-based interview, not just an application review
Highland's Practical Nursing admission includes an in-person interview where applicants are scored on punctuality, attire, and written questions as part of the overall point system - a formal evaluation, not a casual conversation. Treat this interview with professional seriousness (arrive early, dress professionally) since these specific factors are explicitly assigned points toward your admission ranking.
Know that Highland is a genuinely residential two-year college - factor housing into your decision
Unlike most community colleges, Highland offers on-campus dormitories (including some apartment-style units with kitchens) as Kansas' oldest continuously operating college (established 1858) with an active campus life built around athletics and student activities. If you're deciding between a fully residential two-year experience and a commuter community college, know that Highland genuinely offers the former - visit and ask about current dorm renovation status specifically, since student reviews note ongoing (but incomplete) improvements.
Use free placement testing if you don't have ACT/SAT scores
Highland doesn't require ACT/SAT scores for general admission, but offers free placement testing on campus for course placement purposes - a genuinely no-cost alternative for students without standardized test scores. If you lack ACT/SAT scores, schedule Highland's free placement test directly rather than assuming you need to take (and pay for) the ACT or SAT first.
Expert Insight:
A specific and easy-to-miss detail is that Highland's nursing and technical center programs are physically located in Atchison, Kansas - a different city from the historic Highland main campus - and applicants who only research or visit the main campus can be surprised to learn their actual program of interest is delivered at a separate site entirely.
Highland Community College Profile
Full Name
Highland Community College
City
Highland
State
Kansas
ZIP Code
66035-4165
Type
Public
Campus
Main Campus
Official Website
Accredited By
Higher Learning Commission (NCACHE)
Is a Highland Community College Degree Worth It?
Whether Highland Community College is worth it depends less on its reputation and more on your program choice, financial aid package, and career goals — here's the data to weigh it against.
Admitted students' families report a median household income around $52,800, and graduates see a 3.02% unemployment rate.
How much does a degree from Highland Community College Cost?
Listed tuition runs $15,854/year at Highland Community College; factor in Pell and federal grant aid and most students land closer to $10,388.
At Highland Community College, 17.2% receive a Pell Grant and 15.7% carry federal loans. Filing FAFSA early and naming Highland Community College on it improves your shot at both.
How much does a Highland Community College Graduate earn?
Ten years out from enrollment, Highland Community College graduates report a median income of $41,291, about 2% above the U.S. median graduate income.
Degree Programs at Highland Community College
Associate Degree Programs
UG Certificate or Diploma Programs
Frequently Asked Questions About Highland Community College Admissions
Highland Community College graduates earn a lower median salary of $41,291/year, especially outside technical fields.
Tuition at Highland Community College is relatively affordable, around $15,854/year.
17.2% receive a Pell Grant here, below the ~35% national average — Highland Community College skews toward higher-income students, though merit aid may still be worth checking.
Highland Community College follows Rolling Admissions — applications are reviewed year-round, so applying early is your best strategy.
For priority financial aid consideration, get your FAFSA in before Foundation scholarship priority: 2027/03/01 — that's Highland Community College's scholarship priority date.
Transferring in is a well-trodden path here. Line up your transcripts, recommendations, and a strong personal statement before applying.
The biggest levers are academic performance, a clear extracurricular focus, and essays that stand out — plus a solid test score where the school considers one.