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Public, 2-Year
Chicago Heights, IL

Prairie State College

Explore one of the most distinguished institutions in IL. Your pathway to a brighter future begins here.

Annual Tuition

$4,176

Average Sticker Price

Admission Rate

Open

Open Admission

Graduation Rate

17.0%

Completion Success

Median Earnings

$36,696

10y Career Outlook

About Institution

Prairie State College is a distinguished Public, 2-Year institution located in Chicago Heights, IL. With a competitive tuition profile of $4,176, it remains an attractive choice for ambitious students. A strong graduation rate of 17.0% underscores its academic rigor and effective student support systems.

Investment Return

Estimated College ROI Analysis

Total 2-Year Cost

$8,352

Based on sticker tuition

Estimated Payback

1.2 yrs

Time to recoup investment

Annual Earnings Boost

+$6,696

vs. $30k HS diploma baseline

10-Year Net Gain

+$58,608

Cumulative earnings advantage minus total college cost

20-Year Net Gain

+$125,568

Long-term projected return on your education investment

Graduation Rate: 17%

Students who don't graduate may still carry debt without the full earnings benefit. Consider program-specific outcomes in the Career Paths section below.

ROI estimates use the BLS national median of $30,000/yr for high school diploma holders as a baseline. Actual results vary based on major, career path, location, and individual circumstances. Median graduate debt at Prairie State College is $11,000.

Student Community

Gender Balance

Women
Men
60.9%
39.1%
FemininityMasculinity

Ethnic Diversity

Black
53.7%
Hispanic
22.6%
White
13.1%
Two or more
3.6%
Unknown
3.4%
International
2.0%
Asian
1.0%
American Indian / Alaska Native
0.3%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander
0.2%

Security Audit

Safety Rating: 3-Year Aggregate

Incidents

0

Burglary

0

Theft

0

Assault

0

Robbery

0

Rape

0

Arson

0

Murder

0

Financial Outlook

Total Sticker Price

$4,176

Estimated cost before aid.

Net Price By Income

$0 - $30k$3,725
$30k - $48k$4,084
$48k - $75k$6,916
$75k+$11,509

Debt & Financial Aid

Median Debt (grads)$11,000
Pell Grant Recipients35.6%
Using Federal Loans7.5%
Historical 3yr Loan Repayment24.8%

Repayment measured in 2016–17; this federal measure was discontinued.

Grant Aid (IPEDS 2021)

Avg. Total Grant Aid$6,824
Avg. Federal Grant$5,777
Avg. Pell Grant$5,960
Avg. State/Local Grant$1,666
Avg. Institutional Grant$4,419
Students Receiving Grants98.0%
Pell Grant Recipients36.0%

* Most students receive significant grants and scholarships, reducing the actual cost. Grant data from IPEDS Student Financial Aid survey.

Quick Overview

Faculty Ratio

N/A

Retention

55.4%

Success

17.0%

In-State Cost

$4,176

Age 25+ Students

37.2%

Carnegie Class

Carnegie 6

Working at 6yr

2,188 students

Security Benchmark

Campus vs. City Comparison (Per 100k)

Violent Offenses

PER 100K
On-Campus0.0
Chicago Heights (City-wide)0.0

Property Crimes

PER 100K
On-Campus0.0
Chicago Heights (City-wide)0.0

Stats sourced from institutional reports and municipal data. These rates provide a standardized baseline for comparing safety across different environments.