Is Kilgore College Worth It?

Kilgore College gives you a low-cost path with a modest payoff, and where you land depends almost entirely on which program you pick. At $6,629 a year, the total cost of an associate degree stays low, and median debt sits under $15,000. But median earnings ten years out land below $38,000, so the degree that pays for itself is not guaranteed.

The nursing program is the clear financial winner here. It pays roughly $55,000, about $17,000 above the school's median, though it also carries the highest debt of any program on the list at just under $19,000. Industrial Production and Allied Health and Medical Assisting both clear $48,000, and both are tied to the manufacturing and healthcare jobs that anchor East Texas. Those three are the reason to enroll.

The physical science and quality control technician tracks are a different story. They pay near or below the school-wide median, so you take on training time and cost for earnings you might reach without the credential. If one of those is your plan, look hard at the local job listings first.

The biggest risk is the 33% graduation rate. Two out of three of you will not finish, and if you leave with debt and no credential, the math turns against you fast. The low sticker price only protects you if you complete.

Net price climbs sharply with income: if your family earns over $110,000, you pay more than double what a family under $30,000 pays. This school fits you best if you come from a lower-income household, target nursing or a skilled-trades track, and commit to finishing. If you want a technician credential that pays below median, price out the job market before you enroll.