Lewis and Clark Community College
#5 Most Affordable Colleges in Illinois- Graduation Rate
- 46% D+
- Lower completion rate than most colleges
- Earnings (10yr)
- $37,724 C-
- Below average for college graduates
- Net Price
- $3,349 A
- 80% less than the typical college
- Enrollment
- 2,487
Bottom line: A C overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 60.4× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $60.4 over 20 years. Ranked #5 in Most Affordable Colleges in Illinois.
Every $1 spent returns $60.4 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $796,170.
What The Data Says
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A C overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
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Every $1 invested returns $60.4 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Lewis and Clark Community College Matters
Lewis and Clark Community College is a public college in Godfrey, 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
- 2,487
- Setting
- Suburban
- Primary Strengths
- Humanities, Health Professions, Precision Production, Criminal Justice
Why students choose Lewis and Clark Community 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 $3,349 a year after grants and scholarships — 80% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $37,724 ten years after enrolling — 7% below the typical college, against $6,751 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 0.9% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 84% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.12 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
Lewis and Clark Community College has a net price of just $3,349, making it one of the more affordable options for students in Illinois. This low cost allows students to focus on their education without the burden of excessive debt.
According to Chetty/Opportunity Insights data, while specific mobility rates for this institution aren't available, community colleges generally play a crucial role in upward mobility for low-income students. With a graduation rate of 46%, Lewis and Clark shows potential for students to complete their degrees and improve their economic standing over time.
Graduates earn a median of $37,724 ten years after enrollment, which can provide a solid return on investment given the low median debt of $6,751. Students who thrive here often pursue programs in humanities, health professions, and business, reflecting the college's commitment to practical career paths. The Pell Grant rate of 25% indicates a significant number of students benefit from financial aid, further easing the path to success.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective Lewis and Clark Community 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 Lewis and Clark Community College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a public institution in Godfrey, Illinois, Lewis and Clark Community College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 46%.
- Retention Rate
- 70%
- Full-Time Faculty
- 100%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $9,873
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 15:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.41
- First-Gen Students
- 43%
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 Lewis and Clark Community College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Lewis and Clark Community College is $7,840, 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 $3,349. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $721 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $6,751 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $4,340
- Out-of-State
- $7,840
- Avg Net Price
- $3,349
- Median Debt
- $6,751
- Pell Grant Rate
- 25%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 10%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $721
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $1,461
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $4,651
- Family Income $110K+
- $8,517
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Lewis and Clark Community College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Lewis and Clark Community College report median earnings of $37,724, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $35,365
- 8 Years
- $35,720
- 10 Years
- $37,724
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.18x
- Earning > $25K
- 44%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (158)
- 30%
- 100% (158)
- 30%
- 100% (158)
- 30%
- 100% (158)
- 30%
How Lewis 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 Lewis and Clark Community College Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Lewis and Clark Community College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $3,349/year ($13,396 total). Graduates earn $37,724 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $809,566 in total earnings — a net gain of $796,170 (60.4× your investment). The median debt is $6,751, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 46% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $13,396
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $809,566
- Net Return
- $796,170
- ROI Multiple
- 60.4×
- Cost Per Year
- $3,349
- Median Debt
- $6,751
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 46%
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 Lewis and Clark Community College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Lewis and Clark 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 0.88%, in line with strong performers nationally. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 13% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a real foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 6.8% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $66,100, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 0.88%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 6.8%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 13.0%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $66,100
Top Programs
The fields Lewis and Clark 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.
- Humanities 25%
- Health Professions 21%
- Precision Production 10%
- Criminal Justice 5%
- Business & Marketing 5%
- Communications 3%
- Computer Science & IT 3%
- Legal Studies 3%
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Lewis and Clark Community 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+Marketing Manager$156,580 · 8% growthAdaptable 64
- C+Cloud Architect$142,000 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Site Reliability Engineer$140,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CAdvertising Manager$138,730 · 6% growthAdaptable 64
- CSolutions Architect$138,000 · 12% growthAdaptable 52
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Lewis and Clark Community College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a public institution in Godfrey, Illinois, Lewis and Clark Community College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 46%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Lewis and Clark Community College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Lewis and Clark Community College is $7,840, 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 $3,349. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $721 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $6,751 in federal student loans.
Is Lewis and Clark Community College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Lewis and Clark Community College report median earnings of $37,724, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
Does Lewis and Clark Community College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Lewis and Clark 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 0.88%, in line with strong performers nationally. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 13% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a real foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 6.8% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $66,100, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Lewis and Clark Community College? 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 Lewis and Clark Community College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.12, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.03), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 7% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Lewis and Clark Community College.
- Ogden-Weber Technical CollegeOgden, UT · Close peer54% grad $35,032 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Lake Land CollegeMattoon, IL · Close peer56% grad $38,877 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Black Hawk CollegeMoline, IL · Close peer41% grad $37,253 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Nash Community CollegeRocky Mount, NC · Close peer46% grad $34,912 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Illinois Valley Community CollegeOglesby, IL · Close peer43% grad $40,810 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Lincoln Land Community CollegeSpringfield, IL · Close peer45% grad $38,479 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · same state
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Lewis and Clark Community College? 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 Lewis and Clark Community College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.12, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.03), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 7% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note