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Heartland Community College

Public Normal, IL · Suburban · Great Lakes · 87% data
B- Affordability B- Value C Earnings
Graduation Rate
53% C-
About half of students who start complete their degree
Earnings (10yr)
$40,768 C
Roughly in line with national averages
Net Price
$12,013 B-
30% less than the typical college
Enrollment
2,997
Earnings +0% vs avg
Graduation -8% vs avg
Net Price +-30% vs avg
Mobility Top 90%

Bottom line: A C overall grade — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges. 19.9× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $19.9 over 20 years.

19.9× return on investment

Every $1 spent returns $19.9 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $907,773.

What The Data Says

  1. A C overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.

  2. Every $1 invested returns $19.9 over 20 years — an exceptional return.

Why Heartland Community College Matters

Heartland Community College is a public college in Normal, IL and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a well-connected, high-opportunity 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
2,997
Setting
Suburban
Primary Strengths
Humanities, Health Professions, Precision Production, Mechanic & Repair Tech

Why students choose Heartland Community College

Influential alumni network
High cross-class social capital and reach
Strength in Humanities
Its most-awarded field of study

CollegeRanker Report Card

Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.

C
Top 52% overall
C
Earnings
$40,768 median
B-
Value
3.4× net price
B-
Affordability
$12,013/yr net
C-
Graduation
53% graduate
F
Social Mobility
0.8% climb Q1→Q5
C
Diversity
0.57 index

Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.

How we grade →

Overview

Heartland Community College is a solid choice for students looking to gain practical skills in fields like Health Professions, Business & Marketing, and Computer Science & IT. With an enrollment of nearly 3,000, it’s a place where you can find a supportive community while diving deep into your chosen program. The graduation rate of 53% suggests that many students are successfully completing their studies, which is a good sign for those considering a focused educational path.

When it comes to what happens after graduation, the numbers tell a compelling story. Graduates can expect to earn around $40,768 a year after ten years, which can be a comfortable starting point for many. This is particularly important when considering the cost of education. With a net price of $12,013 after financial aid, Heartland keeps education accessible. About 21% of students receive Pell Grants, which can help reduce financial burdens further.

Looking at the financial side, the median debt for graduates stands at $7,826, which is manageable compared to many other institutions. Students who thrive here tend to be those who appreciate a hands-on approach to learning and are motivated to enter the workforce quickly. If you’re looking for a practical education that leads directly to career opportunities without a mountain of debt, Heartland Community College is worth considering.

Rankings

Can I Get In?

How selective Heartland Community College is — and how your numbers stack up.

Tool

Will I Be Accepted?

Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.

3.0
Test Score
1050
21

Academics & Admissions

Is It Hard to Get Into Heartland Community College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements

As a public institution in Normal, Illinois, Heartland Community College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 53%.

Retention Rate
74%
Full-Time Faculty
25%
Faculty Salary (mo)
$8,308
Student–Faculty Ratio
18:1
Diversity Index
0.57
First-Gen Students
40%

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 Heartland Community College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid

Published tuition at Heartland Community College is $13,110, 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 $12,013. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $9,593 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $7,826 in federal student loans.

In-State Tuition
$5,550
Out-of-State
$13,110
Avg Net Price
$12,013
Median Debt
$7,826
Pell Grant Rate
21%
Federal Loan Rate
8%

What Families Actually Pay

Family Income $0–$30K
$9,593
Family Income $30K–$48K
$10,872
Family Income $48K–$75K
$12,959
Family Income $110K+
$16,073

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 Heartland Community College — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.

Compare schools in the full simulator →Sources: College Scorecard, Common Data Set, Opportunity Insights · today's dollars (CPI-adjusted) · descriptive, not predictive

Graduate Outcomes

Is Heartland Community College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI

Ten years out, alumni of Heartland Community College report median earnings of $40,768, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.

6 Years After Entry
$35,616
8 Years
$37,743
10 Years
$40,768
Debt-to-Earnings
0.19x
Earning > $25K
44%

Earnings Trajectory

$35,616 6yr $37,743 8yr $40,768 10yr

Graduation by Timeframe

100% (139)
25%
100% (139)
25%
100% (139)
25%
100% (139)
25%

How Heartland Compares

Dot right of center = above national average.

NATIONAL AVGGraduation53%Earnings 10yr$41KNet Price$12KRetention74%Median Debt$8KPell Grant Rate21%

Net Price by Family Income

What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.

$10K$0-30K$11K$30-48K$13K$48-75K$16K$110K+

The Mobility Equation

Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?

ACCESS% from bottom 20%9.1%SUCCESS% who reach top 20%8.3%MOBILITY0.76%

College ROI Calculator

Is Heartland Community College Worth It?

A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.

Yes — for most students, Heartland Community College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $12,013/year ($48,052 total). Graduates earn $40,768 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $955,825 in total earnings — a net gain of $907,773 (19.9× your investment). The median debt is $7,826, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 53% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.

Total Cost (4yr)
$48,052
Projected 20yr Earnings
$955,825
Net Return
$907,773
ROI Multiple
19.9×
Cost Per Year
$12,013
Median Debt
$7,826
Debt Payback
Less than 1 yr
Graduation Rate
53%

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 Heartland Community College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes

Heartland Community College is a measurable contributor to upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 0.76%, in line with strong performers nationally. About 9.1% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 8.3% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $80,700, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.

Mobility Rate
0.76%
Bottom 20% → Top 20%
Success Rate
8.3%
If bottom 20% get in
From Bottom 20%
9.1%
Share of students
Parent Median Income
$109,643
today's $ (2015 cohort data)

Social Capital

Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas

How Connected Is Heartland Community College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks

Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Heartland Community College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.22, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias sits near the middle of the range (0.05). Around 6% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.

Economic Connectedness
1.22
Cross-class friendships
Friending Bias
0.05
Lower = more inclusive
Volunteering Rate
6.0%
Support Ratio
0.99
Community support

Research Note

267%
Low-income students at colleges in the top quartile of economic connectedness are 267% more likely to reach the top income quintile than peers at the least-connected schools.
Data from CollegeRanker’s review of 5,745 U.S. colleges (n=1,503). Quartile comparison of mean bottom-quintile success rate, split by economic connectedness (Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas × Mobility Report Card).

Institutional Finances

Data: NCES IPEDS

Endowment
$9,633,629
Investment Income
$38,589

Top Programs

The fields Heartland Community College 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.

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is It Hard to Get Into Heartland Community College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements

As a public institution in Normal, Illinois, Heartland Community College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 53%.

How Much Does It Cost to Attend Heartland Community College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid

Published tuition at Heartland Community College is $13,110, 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 $12,013. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $9,593 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $7,826 in federal student loans.

Is Heartland Community College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI

Ten years out, alumni of Heartland Community College report median earnings of $40,768, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.

Does Heartland Community College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes

Heartland Community College is a measurable contributor to upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 0.76%, in line with strong performers nationally. About 9.1% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 8.3% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $80,700, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.

How Connected Is Heartland Community College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks

Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Heartland Community College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.22, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias sits near the middle of the range (0.05). Around 6% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.

Similar Schools

Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Heartland Community College.

The State of American Higher Education Outcomes for 2026 — report cover Download PDF

The 2026 Annual Report

The State of American Higher Education Outcomes

Every state graded on what graduates earn, how far they climb, and what college really costs — the hidden geography of economic mobility, in one report.

Free · 21 pages · 5,745 institutions · 100% federal data, no surveys