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Colleges / IL / Cicero
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Morton College

Public Cicero, IL · Suburban · Great Lakes · 87% data
A Value A Affordability B+ Social Mobility
30%
F
Graduation Rate
Lower completion rate than most colleges
$42,406
C
Earnings (10yr)
Roughly in line with national averages
$5,191
A
Net Price
70% less than the typical college
2,640
Enrollment
Earnings +4% vs avg
Graduation -48% vs avg
Net Price +-70% vs avg
Mobility Top 16%

Bottom line: A C+ overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 54.0× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $54.0 over 20 years.

54.0× return on investment

Every $1 spent returns $54.0 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,101,361.

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What The Data Says

1

A C+ overall — outcomes above the typical U.S. college.

2

Graduation of 30% — 48% below the national average.

3

Social mobility rate of 2.57% — an engine of upward economic mobility.

4

Every $1 invested returns $54.0 over 20 years — an exceptional return.

Why Morton College Matters

Morton College is a public community college in Cicero, IL and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by an above-average alumni network and a strong record of moving students up the income ladder. The result: durable upward mobility for the students it enrolls.

Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.

Institutional Profile

Institution Type
Public Community College
Carnegie Class
Associate's College
Enrollment
2,640
Setting
Suburban
Primary Strengths
Humanities, Health Professions, Business & Marketing, Mechanic & Repair Tech

Why students choose Morton College

Engine of upward mobility
A strong record of moving students up the income ladder
Outstanding value
Low net price against strong graduate earnings
Strength in Humanities
Its most-awarded field of study

CollegeRanker Report Card

Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.

C+
Top 36% overall
C
Earnings
$42,406 median
A
Value
8.2× net price
A
Affordability
$5,191/yr net
F
Graduation
30% graduate
B+
Social Mobility
2.6% climb Q1→Q5
D
Diversity
0.35 index

Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.

How we grade →

Overview

Morton College boasts a net price of just $5,191, making it one of the more affordable options for students seeking higher education. This low cost can significantly reduce the financial burden on students and their families, especially for those starting their careers or transitioning into new fields.

While the graduation rate stands at 30%, the Chetty/Opportunity Insights data for Morton College reveals that many students still find pathways to success after attending. Graduates earn a median salary of $42,406 a decade after enrollment, highlighting the potential for upward mobility despite the challenges. This earning potential can be particularly beneficial for students from low-income backgrounds, as 37% of students receive Pell Grants, indicating a commitment to supporting those in need.

Students who thrive at Morton College often pursue programs in Humanities, Health Professions, Business & Marketing, Mechanic & Repair Tech, and Criminal Justice. With a median debt of only $8,000, graduates can enter the workforce with manageable financial obligations. This combination of affordability and targeted programs positions Morton College as a viable choice for students looking to jumpstart their careers without incurring significant debt.

Rankings

1

Can I Get In?

How selective Morton 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 Morton College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements

As a public institution in Cicero, Illinois, Morton College enrolls students across a range of programs. The school reports a graduation rate of roughly 30%.

Retention Rate 66%
Full-Time Faculty 36%
Faculty Salary (mo) $8,855
Student–Faculty Ratio 19:1
Diversity Index 0.35
First-Gen Students 67%
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 Morton College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid

When weighing the true cost of attending Morton College, prospective students should look past the published sticker price of $12,414 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 $5,191 for families who qualify for aid. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $4,006 after need-based grants. Graduates leave with a median federal student-loan debt of about $8,000.

$5,502
In-State Tuition
$12,414
Out-of-State
$5,191
Avg Net Price
$8,000
Median Debt
37%
Pell Grant Rate
1%
Federal Loan Rate

What Families Actually Pay

$4,006
Family Income $0–$30K
$4,347
Family Income $30K–$48K
$7,763
Family Income $48K–$75K
3

What Happens After?

Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.

Graduate Outcomes

Is Morton College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI

Ten years out, alumni of Morton College report median earnings of $42,406; prospective students should weigh that figure against the program's cost when calculating return on investment.

$34,053
6 Years After Entry
$39,955
8 Years
$42,406
10 Years
0.19x
Debt-to-Earnings
46%
Earning > $25K

Earnings Trajectory

$34,053 6yr $39,955 8yr $42,406 10yr

Graduation by Timeframe

10%
100% (25)
10%
100% (25)
10%
100% (25)
10%
100% (25)

How Morton Compares

Dot right of center = above national average.

NATIONAL AVGGraduation30%Earnings 10yr$42KNet Price$5KRetention66%Median Debt$8KPell Grant Rate37%

Net Price by Family Income

What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.

$4K$0-30K$4K$30-48K$8K$48-75K

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%19.6%SUCCESS% who reach top 20%13.1%MOBILITY2.57%

College ROI Calculator

Is Morton College Worth It?

A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.

Yes — for most students, Morton College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $5,191/year ($20,764 total). Graduates earn $42,406 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,122,125 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,101,361 (54.0× your investment). The median debt is $8,000, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 30% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.

$20,764
Total Cost (4yr)
$1,122,125
Projected 20yr Earnings
$1,101,361
Net Return
54.0×
ROI Multiple
$5,191
Cost Per Year
$8,000
Median Debt
Less than 1 yr
Debt Payback
30%
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 Morton College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes

Morton College is a genuine engine of upward mobility: its mobility rate — the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top — is 2.57%, among the highest in the country. Access is a real strength here: roughly 19.6% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a genuine foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 13.1% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $49,700, a useful read on the campus's socioeconomic mix.

2.57%
Mobility Rate
Bottom 20% → Top 20%
13.1%
Success Rate
If bottom 20% get in
19.6%
From Bottom 20%
Share of students
$49,700
Parent Median Income

Social Capital

Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas

How Connected Is Morton 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 Morton College, with an economic connectedness score of 1.11 (about 1.0 is the national norm). Its friending bias is low (-0.02), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds genuinely mix rather than self-segregate. Around 3% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.

1.11
Economic Connectedness
Cross-class friendships
-0.02
Friending Bias
Lower = more inclusive
2.9%
Volunteering Rate
0.97
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).

Top Programs

The fields Morton 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 Morton College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements +

As a public institution in Cicero, Illinois, Morton College enrolls students across a range of programs. The school reports a graduation rate of roughly 30%.

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

When weighing the true cost of attending Morton College, prospective students should look past the published sticker price of $12,414 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 $5,191 for families who qualify for aid. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $4,006 after need-based grants. Graduates leave with a median federal student-loan debt of about $8,000.

Is Morton College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI +

Ten years out, alumni of Morton College report median earnings of $42,406; prospective students should weigh that figure against the program's cost when calculating return on investment.

Does Morton College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes +

Morton College is a genuine engine of upward mobility: its mobility rate — the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top — is 2.57%, among the highest in the country. Access is a real strength here: roughly 19.6% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a genuine foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 13.1% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $49,700, a useful read on the campus's socioeconomic mix.

How Connected Is Morton 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 Morton College, with an economic connectedness score of 1.11 (about 1.0 is the national norm). Its friending bias is low (-0.02), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds genuinely mix rather than self-segregate. Around 3% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.

Similar Schools

Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Morton College.

The State of American Higher Education Outcomes for 2026 — report cover Download PDF

The 2026 Annual Report

The State of American Higher Education Outcomes

Every state graded on what graduates earn, how far they climb, and what college really costs — the hidden geography of economic mobility, in one report.

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