Joliet Junior College
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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
- Health Professions, Humanities, Business & Marketing, Mechanic & Repair Tech
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 school reports a graduation rate of roughly 21%.
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
When weighing the true cost of attending Joliet Junior College, prospective students should look past the published sticker price of $13,800 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 $1,672 for families who qualify for aid. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $890 after need-based grants. Graduates leave with a median federal student-loan debt of about $9,711.
What Families Actually Pay
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
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; prospective students should weigh that figure against the program's cost when calculating return on investment.
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
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.
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 useful read on the campus's socioeconomic mix.
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
Top Programs
The fields Joliet Junior 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.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Joliet Junior College's most popular programs, with median pay and projected growth.
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 school reports a graduation rate of roughly 21%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Joliet Junior College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid +
When weighing the true cost of attending Joliet Junior College, prospective students should look past the published sticker price of $13,800 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 $1,672 for families who qualify for aid. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $890 after need-based grants. Graduates leave with a median federal student-loan debt of about $9,711.
Is Joliet Junior College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI +
Ten years out, alumni of Joliet Junior College report median earnings of $42,889; prospective students should weigh that figure against the program's cost when calculating return on investment.
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 useful read on 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, with an economic connectedness score of 1.35 (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.
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, with an economic connectedness score of 1.35 (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