City Colleges of Chicago - Kennedy - King College

What City Colleges of Chicago - Kennedy - King College does

Kennedy-King College is one of seven community colleges operating within City Colleges of Chicago Community College District No. 508, a public higher-education system chartered under Illinois statute. The district offers associate degree and certificate programs, adult education, continuing education, GED preparation, and dual-enrollment high school courses across campuses located throughout Chicago, with Kennedy-King serving students on the city's South Side. Core academic infrastructure is built on standard enterprise systems including the EAB Navigate student-success and advising platform, with curriculum participation in the Illinois Articulation Initiative General Education Core Curriculum to support course portability across state institutions.

The business model is that of a public community college: revenue is generated through tuition and fees, supplemented by state appropriations under the Illinois community college funding formula and by local property tax receipts administered at the district level. Financial aid — including Pell Grants and the institutional Star Scholarship Program — functions as a demand-side subsidy. The college does not sell to enterprises and does not pursue venture-style monetization; pricing is set per credit hour and is materially below four-year university alternatives. Customer acquisition is location-driven and brand-driven, anchored by physical campuses, community presence, and structured partnerships rather than performance marketing.

Strategic activity centers on expanding transfer pathways (more than 60 articulation agreements with four-year partners), workforce-aligned credentialing through the Workforce Equity Initiative and Earn and Learn apprenticeship-style program, and equity-focused outreach to adult and non-traditional learners. A 2026-2030 strategic plan formalizes these priorities. The competitive position rests on regulatory status (state charter and Higher Learning Commission accreditation), physical distribution across Chicago, and a dense partner ecosystem rather than on technology differentiation.

Name

City Colleges of Chicago - Kennedy - King College

Legal name

City Colleges of Chicago Community College District No. 508

Website

https://ccc.edu

Company type

Public

Founded year

1935

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Kennedy-King College is a public community college in Chicago, part of City Colleges of Chicago Community College District No. 508, offering associate degrees, certificates, adult education, and dual-enrollment programs to a diverse student body across the city.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community College Education

NAICS

Junior Colleges (61121), Junior Colleges (6112), Junior Colleges (611210), Technical and Trade Schools (6115)

akta.pro primary industry

Comprehensive Community Colleges (Transfer + Workforce) (EDAHADAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Public Community Colleges (EDAHADAA), Transfer/University-Parallel Community Colleges (EDAHADAF)

Keywords

• Community college education
• Associate degree programs
• Workforce training
• Adult education
• Transfer pathways

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Fees: Public community college system funded primarily through student tuition and fees, state appropriations, and federal financial aid. As a public institution, tuition rates are regulated and differ for in-district, out-of-state, and international students.
2. State Funding: Public community college district receives operational funding from the State of Illinois and local tax revenues.
3. Federal Financial Aid: Students receive federal Pell Grants, student loans, and other federal aid programs to fund their education.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Kennedy-King College is one of seven campuses in the City Colleges of Chicago Community College District No. 508. The college offers credit-bearing associate degrees and certificates in fields such as business, healthcare, technology, culinary arts, and trades; free adult education including GED preparation and ESL; continuing education and workforce training; and structured transfer pathways guaranteeing admission and scholarships to over 60 four-year university partners.

Product overview

City Colleges of Chicago is a community college system operating seven accredited colleges throughout Chicago, including Kennedy-King College on the South Side. The institution offers a portfolio of educational products including credit programs (associate degrees and certificates), adult education (GED and ESL), continuing education, online learning, and workforce training through satellite locations like Dawson Technical Institute. The system integrates with third-party platforms for student services including Brightspace (LMS), Navigate (student success), Handshake (career services), Salesforce (enrollment), and PeopleSoft (HR/Finance). Students can earn credit through traditional coursework, prior learning assessment (AP, IB, CLEP, DSST), and transfer pathways to over 80 university partners with guaranteed admission and scholarship programs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Credit Programs Associate degrees and certificate programs across disciplines including business, healthcare, technology, culinary arts, and trades, delivered to students seeking affordable higher education or career credentials.
• Transfer Pathways Guaranteed admission and scholarship programs enabling students to transfer to four-year universities, with over 90 sample transfer pathways and partnerships with institutions including UIC, UIUC, Northwestern, DePaul, and others.
• Illinois Articulation Initiative (IAI) Courses Statewide transfer agreement courses that guarantee credit transfer to any IAI-participating college or university across Illinois.
• Adult Education Free GED preparation classes and English as a Second Language (ESL) courses offered to adult learners seeking to complete high school equivalency or improve English proficiency.
• Continuing Education Professional development, personal enrichment non-credit courses, and workforce training programs serving adult learners and working professionals.
• Online Learning Virtual courses and distance education programs delivered through the Brightspace LMS, enabling flexible learning options for students unable to attend in-person classes.
• Early College Programs Programs allowing high school students to take college-level classes for credit through dual enrollment partnerships with Chicago high schools.
• Star Scholarship Program Transfer scholarship program providing access to scholarships and benefits when transferring to partner four-year institutions across multiple university partnerships.
• Academic Advising Services Professional academic advisors guiding students through goal setting, academic planning, course selection, and transfer preparation using the Navigate platform.
• Career Services Career planning, job placement assistance, and internship opportunities delivered through the Handshake platform for current students and alumni.
• Apprenticeship Programs Earn and Learn apprenticeship programs combining paid work experience with classroom instruction, registered with the State of Illinois and connecting students with employers for on-the-job training.
• Washburne Culinary Institute Culinary arts training programs located at Kennedy-King College, featuring restaurant training facilities for hands-on learning in hospitality and culinary arts.
• Dawson Technical Institute Satellite campus of Kennedy-King College offering specialized technical and vocational training programs for workforce development.

Quantifiable outcome

• Save thousands of dollars on education by completing transferable classes at CCC before transferring to four-year institution

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration15 records

Partnerships

42 partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and flagship.

• Arizona State UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMyPath2ASU partnership providing guaranteed admission pathways for CCC students transferring to Arizona State University with credit transfer optimization.
• Chicago State UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerChicago State Star Scholarship and Guaranteed Admissions agreements. Program articulation for Supply Chain Management at Olive-Harvey College.
• Columbia College ChicagocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerColumbia Chicago Guaranteed Admission and Star Scholarship programs providing transfer pathways and financial support.
• Concordia University ChicagocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerConcordia Chicago Star Scholarship and Transfer Admission Guarantee for CCC students.
• DePaul UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDePaul Admissions Partnership Program (DAPP) and Star Scholarship for guaranteed admission and financial benefits.
• Delaware State UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDSU Hospitality Agreement for culinary/hospitality program articulation from Kennedy-King College.
• Governors State UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGSU Dual Degree Partnership (DDP), Star Scholarship, and Cannabis Studies Transfer Pathway from Olive-Harvey College.
• Illinois Institute of TechnologycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIllinois Tech Engineering Pathways, Cybersecurity Transfer Pathway, Computer Science Transfer Pathway, and Star Scholarship programs.
• Illinois State UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerISU Star Scholarship and Redbird Promise open access transfer program.
• Lincoln University of MissouriminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLincoln University of Missouri Agreement and Star Scholarship for HBCU transfer options.
• Loyola University ChicagocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLoyola Star Scholarship for transfer students from CCC.
• Marquette UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMarquette Star Scholarship and Guaranteed Admissions for transfer students.
• National Louis UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNLU Global Articulation Agreement, Chicago Star Scholarship, and Direct2Success admission partnership.
• Northern Illinois UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNIU Chicago Star Scholarship, Health Sciences Transfer Pathways, and Guaranteed Admission programs.
• Northwestern UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNorthwestern Star Scholarship and School of Professional Studies Early Admissions for transfer students.
• Purdue University NorthwestminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPurdue Northwest RN-BSN program articulation at Malcolm X College and Construction Management at Kennedy-King College.
• Roosevelt UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRoosevelt Pharmacy Agreement, Dual Degree Program, Star Scholarship, and Paralegal Studies articulation at multiple campuses.
• Saint Xavier UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSXU Star Scholarship and Guaranteed Admissions for CCC transfer students.
• Southern Illinois University CarbondalecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSIUC Saluki Step Ahead admission partnership, Star Scholarship, and program articulations including Automotive Technology at Truman, Olive-Harvey, and Kennedy-King, plus Industrial Management at Daley.
• Southern New Hampshire UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSNHU Guaranteed Transfer programs including RN to BSN, AAS HIT to BS HIM, and General Studies for online transfer options.
• University of Illinois ChicagoflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerUIC Transfer Admission Guarantee (TAG), Transfer Chancellor's Fellows Star Scholarship, and program articulations including RN-BSN at Malcolm X College.
• University of Illinois Urbana-ChampaignflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerUIUC Engineering Pathways and Guaranteed Admission for transfer students from all CCC campuses.
• Western Governors UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWGU Transfer Admission Guarantee and Onward With Learning (OWL) Program for online transfer pathways.
• Western Illinois UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWIU Guaranteed Admissions Programs and WIU Star Scholarship for transfer students.
• Fisk UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTransfer Admissions Guarantee (TAG) providing HBCU transfer pathway.
• Morehouse CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMorehouse Guaranteed Admissions for in-person and online transfer options at this HBCU.
• Elmhurst UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerElmhurst Guaranteed Admission Agreement, Star Scholarship, and Honors College admission at Wright and Daley colleges.
• Dominican UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDominican Star Scholarship for transfer students.
• Eastern Illinois UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEIU Chicago Star Scholarship and Panther Pledge open access transfer program.
• North Park UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNorth Park University Star Scholarship for transfer students.
• Northeastern Illinois UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNEIU Star Scholarship, Guaranteed & Dual Admission, and Social Work Bachelors and Masters program articulation.
• School of the Art Institute of ChicagominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSAIC Star Scholarship for art and design transfer students.
• The Chicago SchoolminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Chicago School Star Scholarship for transfer students.
• Illinois Wesleyan UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTitan Transfer Pledge open access transfer for CCC students.
• Valparaiso UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerValpo Guaranteed Admissions for College of Business and Engineering Pathways.
• University of Illinois SpringfieldcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTransfer Guarantee for guaranteed admission and Prairie Promise scholarship.
• East-West UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEast-West Star Scholarship and Guaranteed Admission Agreement.
• Indiana TechminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndiana Tech Tuition Discount and Admissions Agreement for online transfer.
• Kendall CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKendall College Star Scholarship for hospitality/business transfer.
• Washburne Culinary InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCulinary arts training restaurant at Kennedy-King College providing hands-on learning experience.
• Dawson Technical InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTechnical training satellite location at Kennedy-King College for workforce development.
• Earn and Learn Apprenticeship ProgramcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState-registered apprenticeship program connecting students with employers for on-the-job training and education.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Pasadena City College: Large single-campus public community college in California with robust transfer articulation and a broad credit program portfolio; relevant single-metro analog to one CCC campus but at a smaller system scale.
• Dallas College: Recently consolidated multi-campus public community college system serving the Dallas metro, offering similar credit, transfer, and workforce programs to a diverse urban population; structural twin to CCC's unified district model.
• CUNY (City University of New York): Public multi-campus urban higher-education system serving New York City with a mix of community colleges and four-year institutions — a leading comparator for CCC's urban public district mission, transfer pipeline, and adult learner focus.
• Houston Community College: Multi-campus public community college system serving a major U.S. metro (Houston) with similar credit, workforce, adult ed, and transfer pathway offerings; structurally and operationally analogous to CCC.
• Miami Dade College: Largest U.S. community college by enrollment (~50K+), operates multiple campuses across a major metro offering associate degrees, transfer, and workforce programs; the closest scale and mission analog to CCC's seven-campus system.
• Montgomery College (Maryland): Three-campus public community college in suburban Maryland serving the Washington, D.C. metro with transfer, adult ed, and workforce offerings; analogous in multi-campus structure and proximity to a major U.S. metro.
• Los Angeles Community College District: Largest U.S. community college district (9 colleges, ~200K students), directly comparable as a multi-campus urban public community college system offering associate degrees, transfer pathways, and adult education in a major U.S. metro.
• Lone Star College: Multi-campus Texas community college system serving the Houston metro with credit, transfer, and workforce programs; comparable in scale, multi-campus operating model, and urban public district status.
• Broward College: Multi-campus public community college in South Florida offering associate degrees, transfer pathways, and workforce programs in an urban/suburban metro — comparable in mission and program mix to CCC.
• Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA): Largest community college in Virginia with multiple campuses, strong transfer guarantees to four-year Virginia publics, and dual enrollment — directly comparable to CCC on transfer pathway strength and multi-campus urban access.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/KK_College
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/citycollegeschicago
• Facebookfacebook.com/159994197369621
• Instagraminstagram.com/citycollegeschicago
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/citycollegeschicago

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries11 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 City Colleges of Chicago - Kennedy - King College