Recent Kishwaukee College data shows that 72 percent of students who graduated with an associate degree from Kish in 2015 earned another certificate or degree within four years. Of significance is that 90 percent of these students enrolled in an Illinois college or university. The data was made public at the October 8 Kishwaukee College Board of Trustees board meeting.
“It is important for Kishwaukee College to measure student success – not only how well our students are doing at Kish but also how well we prepare them for their next degree,” says Matthew Crull, director of institutional research and data management.
Almost half of all students transferring from Kish attended Northern Illinois University. Other transfer institutions the Kish graduates enrolled in include Illinois State University, Aurora University, Southern Illinois University and Governors State University. The top majors pursued include registered nursing, business, education, accounting and psychology.
The Illinois Board of Higher Education reports 48.4 percent of Illinois public high
school graduates enrolled in an out-of-state 4-year institution in 2017. “Kish is
doing its part to work against the state’s net migration because when students begin
at Kish, they are staying and contribute to the local and state economies. It is clear
community colleges are a good investment in the local community and in the State of
Illinois,” adds Dr. Borowicz. 
Kish alum Angelica Alcaraz began at Kish in Fall 2015 and graduated in Spring 2017 with an associate degree. She transferred to NIU to pursue a bachelor’s in communication studies with an emphasis in organizational/corporate theory. She also earned minors in Spanish and marketing and graduated with her bachelor’s in Spring 2019.
“I initially thought I wanted to study nursing, but ended up entering business,” says Alcaraz. “If I had changed my major at a 4-year institution, I would have felt like I wasted a lot of time and money. Kish helped me figure out what I wanted to do. It was a great place to get started.” A graduate of DeKalb High School, Alcaraz decided to stay local after NIU and is currently employed as a candidate analyst at the executive search firm Nenni & Associates in Sycamore.
Photo: Kishwaukee College alumni discuss the transfer process at the Transfer Panel Q & A session on October 24 at the College for National Transfer Student Week. Pictured: (L to R) Angelica Alcaraz, Spring 2017 Kish graduate and Nicole Adams, Fall 2017 Kish graduate.