Prairie State College
- Graduation Rate
- 20% F
- Lower completion rate than most colleges
- Earnings (10yr)
- $36,696 C-
- Below average for college graduates
- Net Price
- $4,738 A
- 72% less than the typical college
- Enrollment
- 2,443
Bottom line: A C overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 48.9× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $48.9 over 20 years.
Every $1 spent returns $48.9 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $908,379.
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 20% — 65% below the national average.
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Every $1 invested returns $48.9 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Prairie State College Matters
Prairie State College is a public college in Chicago Heights, 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
- 2,443
- Setting
- Suburban
- Designations
- HSI
- Primary Strengths
- Humanities, Health Professions, Computer Science & IT, Mechanic & Repair Tech
Why students choose Prairie State 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 $4,738 a year after grants and scholarships — 72% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $36,696 ten years after enrolling — 10% below the typical college, against $11,000 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 1.1% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 73% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.23 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
Just 20% of students graduate from Prairie State College, a figure that highlights the challenges many face while pursuing their education. With an enrollment of 2,443, the college serves a diverse student body in Chicago Heights, IL. This low graduation rate signals the need for robust support systems for students to reach their educational goals.
Outcomes for Prairie State graduates show a median earnings of $36,696 ten years after enrollment. While the college does not report mobility rates or economic connectedness, it does have a significant percentage of students receiving Pell Grants at 33%. This suggests that many students come from low-income backgrounds and might need additional resources to succeed academically and financially.
The net price for attending Prairie State is $4,738, making it a relatively affordable option for many. Graduates carry a median debt of $11,000, which is manageable compared to potential earnings. Students who thrive here are often those pursuing programs in Humanities, Health Professions, Computer Science & IT, Mechanic & Repair Tech, and Criminal Justice. With the right support, these students can carve out successful paths in their chosen fields.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective Prairie State 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 Prairie State College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Prairie State College, located in Chicago Heights, Illinois, enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 20%.
- Retention Rate
- 51%
- Full-Time Faculty
- 30%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $10,268
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 10:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.65
- First-Gen Students
- 39%
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 Prairie State College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Prairie State College is $11,064, 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 $4,738. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $3,546 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $11,000 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $4,176
- Out-of-State
- $11,064
- Avg Net Price
- $4,738
- Median Debt
- $11,000
- Pell Grant Rate
- 33%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 8%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $3,546
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $3,013
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $7,839
- Family Income $110K+
- $13,908
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Prairie State College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Prairie State College report median earnings of $36,696, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $30,388
- 8 Years
- $32,876
- 10 Years
- $36,696
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.3x
- Earning > $25K
- 43%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (28)
- 10%
- 100% (28)
- 10%
- 100% (28)
- 10%
- 100% (28)
- 10%
How Prairie 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 Prairie State College Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Prairie State College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $4,738/year ($18,952 total). Graduates earn $36,696 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $927,331 in total earnings — a net gain of $908,379 (48.9× your investment). The median debt is $11,000, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 20% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $18,952
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $927,331
- Net Return
- $908,379
- ROI Multiple
- 48.9×
- Cost Per Year
- $4,738
- Median Debt
- $11,000
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 20%
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 Prairie State College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Prairie State 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 1.05%, in line with strong performers nationally. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 17% 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 6.2% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $60,800, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 1.05%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 6.2%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 17.0%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $60,800
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Endowment
- $2,993,353
- Investment Income
- $90,357
Top Programs
The fields Prairie State 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 40%
- Health Professions 35%
- Computer Science & IT 7%
- Mechanic & Repair Tech 5%
- Criminal Justice 5%
- Business & Marketing 2%
- Construction Trades 2%
- Precision Production 1%
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Prairie State 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 Prairie State College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Prairie State College, located in Chicago Heights, Illinois, enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 20%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Prairie State College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Prairie State College is $11,064, 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 $4,738. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $3,546 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $11,000 in federal student loans.
Is Prairie State College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Prairie State College report median earnings of $36,696, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
Does Prairie State College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Prairie State 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 1.05%, in line with strong performers nationally. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 17% 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 6.2% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $60,800, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Prairie State 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 Prairie State College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.23, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually 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 Prairie State College.
- City Colleges of Chicago-Harry S Truman CollegeChicago, IL · Close peer32% grad $36,484 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar size · same state
- Columbus Technical CollegeColumbus, GA · Close peer24% grad $34,238 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Kankakee Community CollegeKankakee, IL · Close peer35% grad $38,767 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar size · similar net price
- Black Hawk CollegeMoline, IL · Close peer41% grad $37,253 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar size · same state
- City Colleges of Chicago-Richard J Daley CollegeChicago, IL · Close peer27% grad $37,962 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Kishwaukee CollegeMalta, IL · Close peer42% grad $39,657 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar size · similar net price
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Prairie State 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 Prairie State College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.23, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 3% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note