# Prairie State College

> CollegeRanker Agent Insights — structured school profile for AI systems
> Source: https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/prairie-state-college

## Overview

- **Location:** Chicago Heights, IL
- **Type:** Public
- **Setting:** Suburban
- **Region:** Great Lakes
- **Enrollment:** 2,443
- **Predominant Degree:** Certificate
- **Hispanic-Serving Institution:** Yes

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.

## Admissions

| Metric | Value |
|--------|-------|
| Acceptance Rate | N/A |
| SAT Average | N/A |
| ACT Midpoint | N/A |

## Cost & Aid

| Metric | Value |
|--------|-------|
| In-State Tuition | $4,176 |
| Out-of-State Tuition | $11,064 |
| Average Net Price | $4,738 |
| Median Debt | $11,000 |
| Pell Grant Rate | 33% |
| Federal Loan Rate | 8% |

### Net Price by Family Income

| Family Income | Net Price |
|--------------|----------|
| $0-$30K | $3,546 |
| $30K-$48K | $3,013 |
| $48K-$75K | $7,839 |
| $75K-$110K | N/A |
| $110K+ | $13,908 |

## Outcomes

| Metric | Value |
|--------|-------|
| Graduation Rate | 20% |
| Retention Rate | 51% |
| Earnings (6yr) | $30,388 |
| Earnings (8yr) | $32,876 |
| Earnings (10yr) | $36,696 |
| Debt-to-Earnings | 0.3x |
| Loan Repayment (3yr) | N/A |

## Social Mobility (Opportunity Insights)

Data source: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card (30M+ anonymized tax records)

| Metric | Value |
|--------|-------|
| Mobility Rate (Q1→Q5) | 105.13% |
| Success Rate (bottom 20% → top 20%) | 619.5% |
| Students from Bottom 20% | 1696.9% |
| Parent Median Income | $60,800 |

## Social Capital (Social Capital Atlas)

| Metric | Value |
|--------|-------|
| Economic Connectedness | 1.23 |
| Friending Bias | 0.01 |
| Volunteering Rate | 3.4% |
| Support Ratio | 0.96 |

## Top Programs

| Program | Enrollment Share |
|---------|------------------|
| 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% |

## Rankings

This school appears in 2 CollegeRanker rankings:

- #12 in [Most Affordable Colleges in Illinois](https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/most-affordable-colleges-illinois)
- #48 in [Most Affordable Hispanic-Serving Institutions](https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/most-affordable-hsis)

## Data Sources

- U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (https://collegescorecard.ed.gov)
- Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Card (https://opportunityinsights.org/data)
- Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
- NCES IPEDS

## Citation

CollegeRanker. "Prairie State College — School Profile." CollegeRanker.com. https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/prairie-state-college