Head-to-head · 2026
Kirkwood Community College vs St Luke's College
Compare average net price ($9,705 at Kirkwood Community College; $19,820 at St Luke's College), ROI score (10.57 vs 7.70), school-wide ten-year median earnings ($41,016 vs $61,033), and admissions context (Open / not reported at Kirkwood Community College; 80% at St Luke's College) using federal College Scorecard data. The table keeps affordability, outcomes, access and program fit separate rather than declaring one universal winner.
Face to face
Metric-by-metric comparison
13 metrics, side by side. Color marks a useful directional signal; admissions, SAT, tuition eligibility, ownership and enrollment stay neutral.
| Metric | Kirkwood Community College | St Luke's College |
|---|---|---|
| ROI score (school-wide) | 10.57 ✓ | 7.70 |
| Avg net price | $9,705 ✓ | $19,820 |
| 4-year avg net price | $38,820 ✓ | $79,280 |
| In-state tuition | $6,176 | $24,175 |
| Out-of-state tuition | $8,220 | $24,175 |
| School-wide earnings (10y) | $41,016 | $61,033 ✓ |
| Acceptance rate | Open / not reported | 80% |
| Graduation rate | 43% | 100% ✓ |
| Retention rate | 71.1% | — |
| Median debt | $12,000 ✓ | $15,000 |
| Enrollment | 7,591 | 167 |
| Ownership | Public | Private Non-Profit |
| Avg SAT | — | 980 |
Cost by family income
Reported net price by income band
Federal averages for students receiving Title IV aid. These are context, not a substitute for either school's financial-aid offer.
| Income band | Kirkwood Community College | St Luke's College |
|---|---|---|
| Family income $0–30k | $6,967 | — |
| Family income $30–48k | $7,084 | — |
| Family income $48–75k | $9,514 ✓ | $15,602 |
| Family income $75–110k | $12,106 | — |
| Family income $110k+ | $14,091 ✓ | $26,147 |
Program fit
Shared fields with reported awards
Award share is the share of reported credentials in a field, not the share of currently enrolled students.
| Shared field | Kirkwood Community College | St Luke's College |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 6.2% | 55.3% |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | 2.4% | 24.7% |
| Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions | 0.6% | 15.3% |
Decision readout
What the differences mean
Kirkwood Community College reports the lower average net price by $10,115 per year. Holding today's averages constant, that is a $40,460 difference over four years ($38,820 vs $79,280).
St Luke's College reports $20,017 higher school-wide median earnings ten years after entry ($61,033 vs $41,016). This is not earnings for a specific major.
Retention data is incomplete for at least one school. Compare the available graduation, debt, price and admissions context without treating a missing field as an advantage.
3 of the strongest shared fields with positive award-share data are listed below. Award share describes reported credentials in a field, not the percentage of currently enrolled students.
Keep comparing
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Frequently asked
Kirkwood Community College vs St Luke's College, answered
3 of the most common questions, with real numbers from federal data.
Which school costs less after aid?
Kirkwood Community College is cheaper — average net price $9,705 per year vs $19,820 at St Luke's College. The annual difference of $10,115 adds up to about $40,460 over four years.
Which school reports higher earnings?
St Luke's College reports higher school-wide median earnings ten years after entry: $61,033 vs $41,016 at Kirkwood Community College. The gap in the federal data is $20,017. This is not major-specific earnings.
Is there an overall winner?
No single metric makes either school the universal winner. Compare your actual aid offers, residency tuition, intended major, graduation and retention rates, debt, location and campus fit. EduGradify keeps these trade-offs separate instead of combining admissions selectivity and test scores into a final verdict.