College of Lake County
- Graduation Rate
- 38% D
- Lower completion rate than most colleges
- Earnings (10yr)
- $43,424 C+
- Roughly in line with national averages
- Net Price
- $7,607 A-
- 56% less than the typical college
- Enrollment
- 9,420
Bottom line: A C+ overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 35.4× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $35.4 over 20 years.
Every $1 spent returns $35.4 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,047,441.
What The Data Says
-
A C+ overall — outcomes above the typical U.S. college.
-
Graduation of 38% — 34% below the national average.
-
Every $1 invested returns $35.4 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Economic Footprint
- Inventor Rate
- 0.1%
- Top 91%
- Patents
- 16
- Linked to graduates
- Patent Citations
- 637
- Downstream influence
Why College of Lake County Matters
College of Lake County is a public college in Grayslake, IL and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by an above-average alumni network. The result: measurable returns for the students it serves.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Public College
- Carnegie Class
- Associate's College
- Enrollment
- 9,420
- Setting
- Suburban
- Designations
- HSI
- Primary Strengths
- Humanities, Health Professions, Mechanic & Repair Tech, Precision Production
Why students choose College of Lake County
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
This school does not report a competitive admit rate — most qualified applicants are admitted.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $7,607 a year after grants and scholarships — 56% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $43,424 ten years after enrolling — 6% above the typical college, against $8,735 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 1.3% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 62% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.09 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
Over 9,400 students attend the College of Lake County, making it a significant player in community education in Illinois. This public institution emphasizes accessible education with a focus on practical career paths. The most striking element is its affordable net price of $7,607, which helps ease the financial burden for many students.
According to the Chetty/Opportunity Insights data, specific mobility metrics for the College of Lake County are not available. However, a commitment to education in high-demand fields like health professions and technology suggests a potential for upward mobility among graduates. While the graduation rate stands at 38%, the focus on career-oriented programs may enhance job prospects for those who complete their studies.
Students thrive here who are dedicated to pursuing hands-on careers. With median debt at $8,735 and average earnings of $43,424 a decade after graduation, many find a solid return on their investment. The college serves a diverse population, including a notable 24% of students receiving Pell Grants, indicating a commitment to supporting lower-income individuals in achieving their educational goals.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective College of Lake County is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into College of Lake County? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a public institution in Grayslake, Illinois, College of Lake County enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 38%.
- Retention Rate
- 72%
- Full-Time Faculty
- 27%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $12,712
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 15:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.67
- First-Gen Students
- 52%
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend College of Lake County? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at College of Lake County is $14,400, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $7,607. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $6,096 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $8,735 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $4,788
- Out-of-State
- $14,400
- Avg Net Price
- $7,607
- Median Debt
- $8,735
- Pell Grant Rate
- 24%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 2%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $6,096
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $6,786
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $8,678
- Family Income $110K+
- $11,025
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Students Like You
Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at College of Lake County — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is College of Lake County Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of College of Lake County report median earnings of $43,424, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $36,407
- 8 Years
- $39,819
- 10 Years
- $43,424
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.2x
- Earning > $25K
- 52%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (197)
- 16%
- 100% (197)
- 16%
- 100% (197)
- 16%
- 100% (197)
- 16%
How College Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
The Mobility Equation
Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?
College ROI Calculator
Is College of Lake County Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, College of Lake County delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $7,607/year ($30,428 total). Graduates earn $43,424 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,077,869 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,047,441 (35.4× your investment). The median debt is $8,735, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 38% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $30,428
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,077,869
- Net Return
- $1,047,441
- ROI Multiple
- 35.4×
- Cost Per Year
- $7,607
- Median Debt
- $8,735
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 38%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Social Mobility
Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records
Does College of Lake County Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
College of Lake County is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 1.25%, well above the typical college. About 7.9% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 15.8% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $88,400, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 1.25%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 15.8%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 7.9%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $120,105
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Innovation & Knowledge Creation
Patents, inventors, and research influence · Opportunity Insights & Times Higher Education
College of Lake County produces inventors at a measurable rate, with 16 patents tied to its graduates.
- Inventor Rate
- 0.13%
- Top 91% nationally
- Patents Produced
- 16
- Linked to graduates
- Patent Citations
- 637
- Downstream influence
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Endowment
- $2,868,035
- Investment Income
- $-1,041,341
Top Programs
The fields College of Lake County awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.
- Humanities 33%
- Health Professions 25% $68,820 early-career
- Mechanic & Repair Tech 16% $49,387 early-career
- Precision Production 4%
- Computer Science & IT 3%
- Business & Marketing 3% $29,935 early-career
- Culinary & Personal Services 2% $31,312 early-career
- Criminal Justice 1% $33,980 early-career
Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for College of Lake County's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- C+Cloud Architect$142,000 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Site Reliability Engineer$140,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CSolutions Architect$138,000 · 12% growthAdaptable 52
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CPetroleum Engineer$135,690 · 2% growthResilient 72
- CSales Manager$135,160 · 4% growthAdaptable 64
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into College of Lake County? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a public institution in Grayslake, Illinois, College of Lake County enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 38%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend College of Lake County? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at College of Lake County is $14,400, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $7,607. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $6,096 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $8,735 in federal student loans.
Is College of Lake County Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of College of Lake County report median earnings of $43,424, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
Does College of Lake County Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
College of Lake County is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 1.25%, well above the typical college. About 7.9% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 15.8% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $88,400, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is College of Lake County? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs above average at College of Lake County. Its economic connectedness score is 1.09, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias sits near the middle of the range (0.11). Around 5% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to College of Lake County.
- Southeast Community College AreaLincoln, NE · Close peer36% grad $43,405 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Gwinnett Technical CollegeLawrenceville, GA · Close peer29% grad $45,025 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- John C Calhoun State Community CollegeTanner, AL · Close peer41% grad $38,192 earnWhy: similar grad rate · similar size · similar net price
- Chabot CollegeHayward, CA · Close peer44% grad $48,143 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate
- Citrus CollegeGlendora, CA · Close peer43% grad $42,065 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- William Rainey Harper CollegePalatine, IL · Close peer47% grad $48,071 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is College of Lake County? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs above average at College of Lake County. Its economic connectedness score is 1.09, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias sits near the middle of the range (0.11). Around 5% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note