Kishwaukee College

What Kishwaukee College does

Kishwaukee College is a public two-year community college operating within Illinois Community College District 523 from its single campus at 21193 Malta Road, Malta, Illinois. Founded in 1967 and employing 251-500 staff, the institution delivers associate degree programs (AA, AS, AFA, AAS, AES), certificate programs, short-term career training, adult education (GED, ESL), and customized workforce development to residents of DeKalb, Ogle, and surrounding counties in northern Illinois. It maintains an open-door admission policy for in-district students and structures tuition at $160 per credit hour (fees and textbooks included) for in-district learners, with separate out-of-district and out-of-state rate tiers.

The college's core products fall into two layers: academic offerings across eight guided pathways (Health Sciences, Applied Technologies, Business & Computer Technologies, Arts/Communication/Humanities, Public/Social/Behavioral Sciences, Agriculture & Horticulture, Education, and STEM/Engineering) and an extensive wraparound student services portfolio that includes Kody's Cupboard food pantry, Talkspace-based mental health counseling, disability accommodations via Clockwork portal, basic-needs support, athletics (Kish Kougars), career services, and 25+ student organizations. The technology stack is built on standard educational infrastructure rather than proprietary IP: a learning management system, MyKish student portal, laptop-loan program, multi-factor authentication, Transferology for credit evaluation, EBSCO research databases, CARLI/I-Share library consortium access, and Maxient for student intake. No AI/ML capabilities, APIs, or developer-facing integrations are documented.

The business model is fundamentally public-sector: revenue derives from a mix of state appropriations, local property taxes (subject to public levy hearings), tuition and fees billed per credit hour, federal grants, scholarships disbursed (over $845k in 2025), and auxiliary services. The college participates in dual credit distribution through K-12 school partnerships under a dedicated Director of Dual Credit & K-12 Partnerships, and in credit articulation through formal transfer agreements with over 20 four-year universities — including guaranteed-admission and 3+1/2+2 pathways with Northern Illinois University, UIC, Illinois State, UIUC, SIU, EIU, and out-of-state partners. Customer segments are diversified across traditional students, adult learners, undocumented students, students with disabilities, and high school dual-enrollment cohorts. Pricing is set publicly, with financial aid penetration at 66% of students in 2025.

Name

Kishwaukee College

Legal name

Kishwaukee College

Website

https://kish.edu

Company type

Public

Founded year

1967

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Kishwaukee College is a public community college in Malta, Illinois serving Community College District 523. It offers associate degrees, certificates, transfer pathways to 20+ universities, adult education, and workforce training, supported by comprehensive student services including mental health, basic-needs, and disability accommodations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community College / Higher Education

NAICS

Junior Colleges (6112), Junior Colleges (61121), Junior Colleges (611210), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Community Colleges (EDAHADAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Comprehensive Community Colleges (Transfer + Workforce) (EDAHADAE), Junior Colleges (Associate-Degree Granting) (EDAHADAC), Online Community Colleges (2-Year, Degree/Transfer) (EDAHALAC)

Keywords

• Community college education
• Associate degree programs
• Workforce development training
• Transfer pathway programs
• Adult education services

Headquarters

HQ city

Malta

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Fees: Kishwaukee College generates revenue primarily through tuition charged per credit hour. The institution has an open-door admission policy for in-district residents of Community College District 523. Tuition rates are structured by residency status, with in-district rates being the most affordable.

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Kishwaukee College is a public community college that delivers post-secondary education through associate degree programs (AA, AS, AFA, AAS, AES), certificate programs, transfer pathway programs with articulation agreements to four-year universities, Career & Technical Education (CTE), short-term career training, adult education (GED/ESL), and customized workforce development for local employers. The college charges $160 per credit hour for in-district students with fees and textbooks included, and operates an open-door admission policy for Community College District 523 residents.

Product overview

Kishwaukee College is a two-year community college offering a comprehensive portfolio of educational products and student services. The institution operates as a single unified college providing: (1) Associate degree programs (AA, AS, AFA, AAS, AES) across seven academic pathways—Health Sciences, Applied Technologies & Professional Trades, Business & Computer Technologies, Arts & Communication & Humanities, Public & Social & Behavioral Sciences, Agriculture & Horticulture, Education, and Science & Engineering & Mathematics; (2) Certificate programs and short-term career training for workforce entry and advancement; (3) Transfer pathway programs with 3+1 and 2+2 articulation agreements with over 30 four-year institutions; (4) Adult education including GED and ESL programs; (5) Workforce development services for local employers. Supporting these academic offerings are extensive student services including Kish Athletics (8+ sports plus Esports), Career Services, Student Clubs & Organizations, Library Services with specialized research databases (EBSCOhost, LGBTQ+ Source, Ethnic Diversity Source), Testing Services, Tutoring, Disability Services with Clockwork portal management, Mental Health Services via Talkspace, Basic Needs Support including the on-campus Kody's Cupboard food pantry, Undocumented Student Support, and Gender & Sexuality Diversity Services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Associate Degree Programs Two-year undergraduate degree programs (AA, AS, AFA, AAS, AES) across academic disciplines including Health Sciences, Applied Technologies, Business & Computer Technologies, Arts & Humanities, Social Sciences, Agriculture, Education, and STEM. Aimed at prospective college students seeking credentials for employment or transfer.
• Certificate Programs Short-term credential programs providing specialized training and skills for career advancement or entry into specific professions. Designed for students seeking focused workforce credentials.
• Transfer Pathway Programs Guided academic pathways enabling students to complete foundational coursework at Kishwaukee College before transferring to four-year universities, including 3+1 and 2+2 articulation agreements with institutions such as Northern Illinois University, University of Illinois Chicago, and Southern Illinois University. Targeted at students planning to pursue a bachelor's degree.
• Career & Technical Education (CTE) Workforce-oriented programs combining academic instruction with technical and practical skills training for immediate employment in specialized fields such as nursing, welding, manufacturing, and applied trades.
• Short-Term Programs & Career Training Accelerated, focused training programs designed for quick entry into the workforce or skill upgrading for current workers. Open to community members and incumbent workers.
• Adult Education Educational programs for adult learners including GED preparation, English as a Second Language (ESL), and continuing education courses. Targeted at adult learners, English language learners, undocumented students, and GED seekers.
• Workforce Development Customized training and development services for local businesses and organizations to enhance employee skills and organizational performance. Targeted at employers and workforce partners.
• Transfer Agreements & Guaranteed Admission Programs Formal articulation agreements with over 30 colleges and universities providing guaranteed admission, 3+1 pathways, and 2+2 transfer options. Partners include Northern Illinois University, UIC, Illinois State, Southern Illinois University, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Eastern Illinois University, and Arizona State University.
• Kish Athletics Intercollegiate athletic programs including baseball, basketball, bowling, cross-country, Esports, golf, soccer, softball, and volleyball. Teams compete as the Kish Kougars and the program is open to enrolled students.
• Career Services Comprehensive career support including career exploration, job search assistance, internship placement, and professional development resources. Targeted at current students and recent graduates.
• Library Services Research resources, database access (EBSCOhost, LGBTQ+ Source, Ethnic Diversity Source), interlibrary loan through I-Share, and research assistance. Available to enrolled students, faculty, and community patrons.
• Testing Services Proctored exam administration for placement testing, course exams, accommodated testing, TEAS (Nursing & Radiology), Nurse Aide Competency, and CLEP examinations. Open to enrolled students and external test-takers.
• Tutoring Services Free academic support for writing assignments, mathematics, science, study strategies, research projects, and test preparation. Available to enrolled students.
• Disability Services Academic accommodation services for students with documented disabilities, including testing accommodations, assistive technology, and access support, managed through the Clockwork portal. Targeted at enrolled students with disabilities.
• Mental Health Services Free, confidential online therapy through Talkspace for all full-time and part-time students, plus crisis support resources. Available to enrolled students.

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration8 records

Partnerships

31 partnerships are on record, tiered core, regional and minor.

• Northern Illinois University (NIU)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTop transfer school partner with Guaranteed Admission Agreement, Reverse Transfer Agreement, BSN Completion Program articulation, Technology/Applied Manufacturing pathway, Teacher Preparation Pathway for Elementary Education with ESL/Bilingual Emphasis, and Kishwaukee College Transfer Scholarships.
• University of Illinois Chicago (UIC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTop transfer school partner with Transfer Admission Guarantee (TAG) program. Articulation agreements across multiple programs including Business, Criminology, Nursing (Pre-Nursing and BSN), Engineering, and Liberal Arts & Sciences.
• Illinois State UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTop transfer school partner with Redbird Promise Guaranteed Admission Program.
• Southern Illinois University CarbondalecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSaluki Step Ahead program and multiple online program articulations including Business, Criminology, Early Childhood, Healthcare Management, Nursing (RN to BSN), Psychology, and Information Technology.
• Southern Illinois University EdwardsvillecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRN to BSN online program articulation and 2+2 Articulation Agreement for Criminal Justice and Business Administration.
• University of Illinois Urbana-ChampaigncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTransfer Guarantee program and ACES major articulations including Agricultural and Consumer Economics, Animal Sciences, Computer Science and Crop Sciences, Food Science and Human Nutrition, Human Development and Family Studies, Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences, and Technical Systems Management.
• Eastern Illinois UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPanther Pledge – Guaranteed Transfer Admission Program.
• Arizona State UniversityregionalStrategic or Co-development PartnerGuaranteed Program for Admissions (GPA), Transfer Guide, Degree Search, Illinois GPA Page, and out-of-state transfer partnership.
• Columbia College ChicagoregionalStrategic or Co-development PartnerGuaranteed admissions for some areas of study including Advertising, Animation, Arts Management, Business (digital media, entertainment industry, sports management), Creative Writing, Fashion Studies, Game Design, Graphic Design, and more.
• Lewis UniversityregionalStrategic or Co-development Partner2+2 Criminal Justice – Forensic articulation agreement.
• Rockford UniversityregionalStrategic or Co-development PartnerReverse Transfer Credit Articulation, Rockford Ready collaboration for Accounting and Management Studies completion, and 2+2 Biology, Chemistry, or Biochemistry pathways.
• Judson UniversityregionalStrategic or Co-development PartnerTransfer articulation for Criminal Justice, Human Services, and Business programs through the Division of Continuing Education.
• Chamberlain University College of NursingregionalStrategic or Co-development PartnerAAS in Nursing to BSN articulation.
• Saint Anthony College of NursingregionalStrategic or Co-development PartnerRN to BSN articulation and transfer guides.
• Western Illinois UniversityregionalStrategic or Co-development PartnerB.A. in General Studies articulation accepting AA, AS, AFA, AES, and AAS degrees.
• National Louis UniversityregionalStrategic or Co-development PartnerDirect to Success Program (D2S) transfer pathway.
• Olivet Nazarene UniversityregionalStrategic or Co-development PartnerRN to BSN Transfer Agreement.
• Roosevelt UniversityregionalStrategic or Co-development PartnerDual Agreement for transfer students.
• Franklin UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity college transfer partnership.
• Palmer College of ChiropracticminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssociate Degree to BS in Chiropractic articulation (Davenport Campus only).
• University of IowaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAA degree meets freshman and sophomore general education requirements for Tippie College of Business, College of Public Health, University College, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, and College of Education.
• University of Wisconsin-WhitewaterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUWW Guaranteed Admission Programs and Art program articulation.
• University of Wisconsin-OshkoshminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProgram-to-program agreement for transfer students.
• Western Governors UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative agreement for transfer students.
• University of Maryland Global CampusminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAlliance Transfer Partnership.
• TransVAC (Voluntary Action Center of DeKalb)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFree or low-cost transportation for students enrolled in 3+ credit hours, GED, ESL, or short-term training. Provides bus service between Kishwaukee College and DeKalb, Sycamore, Genoa, Kirkland, Shabbona, and Somonauk.
• Reagan Mass Transit District (RMTD)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerScheduled and on-demand transportation for students traveling from Rochelle and surrounding areas. Monday-Thursday service with 8am drop-off and 4:10pm pickup.
• Safe PassagecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerConfidential advisor services for students affected by sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence and stalking. The college partners with Safe Passage to provide emergency and ongoing support services.
• Illinois Community College SystemcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember of Illinois community college system serving Community College District 523. Participates in iTransfer resources and Illinois statewide transfer standards.
• Illinois Department of Human ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for SNAP benefits administration. DeKalb County office located at 1629 Afton Road, Sycamore, IL 60178.
• CARLI (Consortium of Academic and Research Libraries in Illinois)coreTechnology or IntegrationLibrary consortium providing shared e-book collection (CARLI eBook Central) and I-Share library system access across Illinois community colleges.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• McHenry County College: Public community college in Crystal Lake, Illinois serving McHenry County - immediately adjacent to Kishwaukee's DeKalb/Ogle catchment. Similar in size, transfer programming, and dual-credit strategy, with overlap in the northern Illinois commuter student market.
• Rock Valley College: Public community college in Rockford, Illinois (Winnebago County), adjacent to Kishwaukee's service area. Comparable in offering associate degrees, transfer pathways to NIU and other state universities, and CTE/workforce programming for northern Illinois.
• Sauk Valley Community College: Public two-year community college in Dixon, Illinois serving a rural district in north-central Illinois. Comparable to Kishwaukee in scale, rural catchment area, transfer pathways to Illinois universities, and CTE/workforce offerings.
• Waubonsee Community College: Public community college in Sugar Grove, Illinois serving Kane, Kendall, DeKalb, and LaSalle counties. Overlaps Kishwaukee's district footprint, shares the same Illinois transfer system and articulation partners, and competes for the same commuter/online student base.
• Elgin Community College: Public community college in Elgin, Illinois serving a large suburban district that overlaps with portions of Kishwaukee's feeder geography. Comparable on academic pathway structure, transfer agreements, and CTE portfolio.
• Illinois Valley Community College: Public community college in Oglesby, Illinois serving a rural north-central Illinois district. Comparable to Kishwaukee in scale, rural community context, dual-credit strategy, and transfer/technical program mix.
• Highland Community College: Public community college in Freeport, Illinois serving a rural northwest Illinois district. Highly comparable to Kishwaukee in geographic context, associate-degree mix, university transfer partnerships, and workforce development role.

Broad incumbents

• College of DuPage: One of the largest single-campus community colleges in Illinois, located in Glen Ellyn. Operates the same Illinois public community college model with comprehensive transfer, CTE, and adult education, but at materially larger scale than Kishwaukee - representing the upper bound of Kishwaukee's competitive set.
• Joliet Junior College: The first public community college in the United States, serving Joliet and the southwest Chicago exurbs. Offers the same Illinois community college product set (associate degrees, transfer pathways, CTE) but at significantly larger scale and with broader program depth than Kishwaukee.
• Harper College: Large public community college in Palatine, Illinois serving the northwest suburbs of Chicago. Comparable academic and transfer programming, but materially larger enrollment, broader online offerings, and deeper employer partnerships than Kishwaukee.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/KishwaukeeCollegeLibrary
• Facebookfacebook.com/73178785260
• Instagraminstagram.com/kishwaukeecollegelibrary
• Xx.com/KishCollege

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Kishwaukee College