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Heartland Community College

Public Normal, IL · Suburban · Great Lakes · 87% data reported · Agent Insights · Claim Your School's Profile ➜
53%
Graduation Rate
$40,768
Earnings (10yr)
$12,013
Net Price
2,997
Enrollment
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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, Computer Science & IT

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

1

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 school reports a graduation rate of 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%
2

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

When weighing the true cost of attending Heartland Community College, prospective students should look past the published sticker price of $13,110 in tuition. The figure that matters more is the average net price — the actual out-of-pocket cost after federal grants, institutional scholarships, and student loans — which works out to about $12,013 for families who qualify for aid. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $9,593 after need-based grants. Graduates leave with a median federal student-loan debt of about $7,826.

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

What Families Actually Pay

$9,593
Family Income $0–$30K
$10,872
Family Income $30K–$48K
$12,959
Family Income $48K–$75K
$16,073
Family Income $110K+
3

What Happens After?

Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.

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; prospective students should weigh that figure against the program's cost when calculating return on investment.

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

Earnings Trajectory

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

Graduation by Timeframe

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

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.

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

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 useful read on the campus's socioeconomic mix.

0.76%
Mobility Rate
Bottom 20% → Top 20%
8.3%
Success Rate
If bottom 20% get in
9.1%
From Bottom 20%
Share of students
$80,700
Parent Median Income

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, with an economic connectedness score of 1.22 (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.

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

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

Top Programs

The fields Heartland Community College awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Each links to its degree guide — with salary, growth, and the schools with the strongest outcomes.

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 school reports a graduation rate of roughly 53%.

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

When weighing the true cost of attending Heartland Community College, prospective students should look past the published sticker price of $13,110 in tuition. The figure that matters more is the average net price — the actual out-of-pocket cost after federal grants, institutional scholarships, and student loans — which works out to about $12,013 for families who qualify for aid. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $9,593 after need-based grants. Graduates leave with a median federal student-loan debt of about $7,826.

Is Heartland Community College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI +

Ten years out, alumni of Heartland Community College report median earnings of $40,768; prospective students should weigh that figure against the program's cost when calculating return on investment.

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 useful read on 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, with an economic connectedness score of 1.22 (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.

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