Joliet Junior College
#1 Most Affordable Colleges in Illinois- Graduation Rate
- 21% F
- Lower completion rate than most colleges
- Earnings (10yr)
- $42,889 C+
- Roughly in line with national averages
- Net Price
- $1,672 A+
- 90% less than the typical college
- Enrollment
- 9,306
Bottom line: A C+ overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 156.8× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $156.8 over 20 years. Ranked #1 in Most Affordable Colleges in Illinois.
Every $1 spent returns $156.8 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,042,286.
What The Data Says
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A C+ overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
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Graduation of 21% — 64% below the national average.
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Every $1 invested returns $156.8 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Joliet Junior College Matters
Joliet Junior College is a public college in Joliet, 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
- 9,306
- Setting
- Suburban
- Designations
- HSI
- Primary Strengths
- Humanities, Mechanic & Repair Tech, Health Professions, Business & Marketing
Why students choose Joliet Junior College
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 $1,672 a year after grants and scholarships — 90% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $42,889 ten years after enrolling — 5% above the typical college, against $9,711 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 0.8% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 89% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.35 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
Nearly 10,000 students choose Joliet Junior College each year for its affordable education, with a net price of just $1,672. This makes it one of the most accessible options for those looking to further their studies without incurring significant debt.
Chetty/Opportunity Insights data is not available for this institution, but the graduation rate stands at 21%. This figure highlights the importance of understanding the support systems in place for students. While the school serves a diverse population, the journey to graduation can be challenging, particularly for those from lower-income backgrounds.
Graduates earn a median income of $42,889 within a decade of completing their studies. With a median debt of $9,711, students can expect manageable repayment options after graduation. Programs like Health Professions, Business & Marketing, and Computer Science attract students who thrive in practical, hands-on learning environments. This college is ideal for individuals seeking a low-cost education with a focus on career readiness.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective Joliet Junior College 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 Joliet Junior College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Joliet, Illinois, Joliet Junior College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 21%.
- Retention Rate
- 67%
- Full-Time Faculty
- 29%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $12,997
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 15:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.66
- First-Gen Students
- 47%
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 Joliet Junior College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Joliet Junior College is $13,800, 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 $1,672. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $890 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $9,711 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $4,530
- Out-of-State
- $13,800
- Avg Net Price
- $1,672
- Median Debt
- $9,711
- Pell Grant Rate
- 25%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 4%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $890
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $220
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $2,824
- Family Income $110K+
- $4,556
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 Joliet Junior College — 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 Joliet Junior College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Joliet Junior College report median earnings of $42,889, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $36,334
- 8 Years
- $39,206
- 10 Years
- $42,889
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.23x
- Earning > $25K
- 49%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (47)
- 5%
- 100% (47)
- 5%
- 100% (47)
- 5%
- 100% (47)
- 5%
How Joliet 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 Joliet Junior College Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Joliet Junior College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $1,672/year ($6,688 total). Graduates earn $42,889 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,048,974 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,042,286 (156.8× your investment). The median debt is $9,711, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 21% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $6,688
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,048,974
- Net Return
- $1,042,286
- ROI Multiple
- 156.8×
- Cost Per Year
- $1,672
- Median Debt
- $9,711
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 21%
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 Joliet Junior College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Joliet Junior 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 0.78%, in line with strong performers nationally. About 5.8% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 13.5% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $92,100, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 0.78%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 13.5%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 5.8%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $125,132
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Investment Income
- $160,726
Top Programs
The fields Joliet Junior 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.
- Humanities 21%
- Mechanic & Repair Tech 15%
- Health Professions 14% $72,651 early-career
- Business & Marketing 14%
- Computer Science & IT 11%
- Culinary & Personal Services 3% $27,240 early-career
- Precision Production 3%
- Visual & Performing Arts 1%
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 Joliet Junior College'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 Joliet Junior College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Joliet, Illinois, Joliet Junior College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 21%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Joliet Junior College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Joliet Junior College is $13,800, 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 $1,672. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $890 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $9,711 in federal student loans.
Is Joliet Junior College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Joliet Junior College report median earnings of $42,889, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
Does Joliet Junior College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Joliet Junior 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 0.78%, in line with strong performers nationally. About 5.8% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 13.5% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $92,100, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Joliet Junior 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 Joliet Junior College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.35, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias sits near the middle of the range (0.06). Around 5% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Joliet Junior College.
- Moraine Valley Community CollegePalos Hills, IL · Close peer37% grad $43,892 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar size · same state
- Gwinnett Technical CollegeLawrenceville, GA · Close peer29% grad $45,025 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Washtenaw Community CollegeAnn Arbor, MI · Close peer31% grad $39,449 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar size
- Cerritos CollegeNorwalk, CA · Close peer30% grad $41,156 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate
- Citrus CollegeGlendora, CA · Close peer43% grad $42,065 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar size
- College of Lake CountyGrayslake, IL · Close peer38% grad $43,424 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar size · same state
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Joliet Junior 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 Joliet Junior College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.35, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias sits near the middle of the range (0.06). Around 5% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note