McHenry County College
- Graduation Rate
- 38% D
- Lower completion rate than most colleges
- Earnings (10yr)
- $45,143 C+
- Roughly in line with national averages
- Net Price
- $7,042 A-
- 59% less than the typical college
- Enrollment
- 4,691
Bottom line: A C overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 42.0× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $42.0 over 20 years.
Every $1 spent returns $42.0 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,154,173.
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 38% — 33% below the national average.
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Every $1 invested returns $42.0 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why McHenry County College Matters
McHenry County College is a public college in Crystal Lake, IL and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: graduate earnings well above the typical college.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Public College
- Carnegie Class
- Associate's College
- Enrollment
- 4,691
- Setting
- Rural
- Designations
- HSI
- Primary Strengths
- Humanities, Health Professions, Business & Marketing, Mechanic & Repair Tech
Why students choose McHenry County 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 $7,042 a year after grants and scholarships — 59% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $45,143 ten years after enrolling — 11% above the typical college, against $6,260 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 0.8% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 86% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.41 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
Students at McHenry County College can expect a net price of just $7,042, making it an affordable option for higher education in Illinois. With a focus on practical fields like Health Professions, Business, and Criminal Justice, students can gain valuable skills that lead to employment opportunities.
The 10-year earnings for graduates sit at $45,143. While the graduation rate is 38%, the college serves a diverse student body, including those from economically disadvantaged backgrounds. The low median debt of $6,260 reflects a commitment to keeping education accessible for all.
Students who thrive here often appreciate smaller class sizes and a supportive learning environment. With a Pell Grant rate of 11%, financial aid options are available for eligible students. McHenry County College is a solid choice for individuals seeking a cost-effective path to obtaining a degree and entering the workforce.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective McHenry County 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 McHenry County College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Crystal Lake, Illinois, McHenry County College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 38%.
- Retention Rate
- 71%
- Full-Time Faculty
- 29%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $11,832
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 26:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.56
- First-Gen Students
- 48%
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 McHenry County College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at McHenry County College is $14,399, 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 $7,042. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $5,609 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $6,260 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $4,162
- Out-of-State
- $14,399
- Avg Net Price
- $7,042
- Median Debt
- $6,260
- Pell Grant Rate
- 11%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 1%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $5,609
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $6,383
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $7,761
- Family Income $110K+
- $12,345
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 McHenry County 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 McHenry County College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of McHenry County College earn a median of $45,143, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $36,496
- 8 Years
- $43,096
- 10 Years
- $45,143
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.14x
- Earning > $25K
- 55%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (98)
- 18%
- 100% (98)
- 18%
- 100% (98)
- 18%
- 100% (98)
- 18%
How McHenry 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 McHenry County College Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, McHenry County College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $7,042/year ($28,168 total). Graduates earn $45,143 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,182,341 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,154,173 (42.0× your investment). The median debt is $6,260, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 38% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $28,168
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,182,341
- Net Return
- $1,154,173
- ROI Multiple
- 42.0×
- Cost Per Year
- $7,042
- Median Debt
- $6,260
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 38%
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 McHenry County College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
McHenry County 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 0.83%, in line with strong performers nationally. About 4.3% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 19.6% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $95,900, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 0.83%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 19.6%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 4.3%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $130,295
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Endowment
- $5,894,700
- Investment Income
- $-761,083
Top Programs
The fields McHenry County 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 40%
- Health Professions 18% $75,569 early-career
- Business & Marketing 9% $58,042 early-career
- Mechanic & Repair Tech 8%
- Criminal Justice 4% $52,068 early-career
- Culinary & Personal Services 2%
- Precision Production 2%
- Computer Science & IT 2%
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 McHenry County 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 McHenry County College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Crystal Lake, Illinois, McHenry County College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 38%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend McHenry County College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at McHenry County College is $14,399, 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 $7,042. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $5,609 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $6,260 in federal student loans.
Is McHenry County College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of McHenry County College earn a median of $45,143, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
Does McHenry County College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
McHenry County 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 0.83%, in line with strong performers nationally. About 4.3% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 19.6% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $95,900, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is McHenry County 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 McHenry County College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.41, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.02), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 6% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to McHenry County College.
- Elgin Community CollegeElgin, IL · Close peer41% grad $45,516 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- College of Southern MarylandLa Plata, MD · Close peer33% grad $44,435 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Northeast Wisconsin Technical CollegeGreen Bay, WI · Close peer49% grad $44,553 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar size
- NorthWest Arkansas Community CollegeBentonville, AR · Close peer29% grad $43,505 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Reedley CollegeReedley, CA · Close peer42% grad $38,493 earnWhy: similar grad rate · similar size · similar net price
- Lanier Technical CollegeGainesville, GA · Close peer35% grad $37,623 earnWhy: similar grad rate · similar size · similar net price
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is McHenry County 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 McHenry County College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.41, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.02), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 6% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note