South Suburban College
- Graduation Rate
- 26% F
- Lower completion rate than most colleges
- Earnings (10yr)
- $33,680 D+
- Below average for college graduates
- Net Price
- $3,242 A+
- 81% less than the typical college
- Enrollment
- 2,042
Bottom line: A C+ overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 67.4× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $67.4 over 20 years.
Every $1 spent returns $67.4 over 20 years. Net gain: $861,360.
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 26% — 54% below the national average.
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Every $1 invested returns $67.4 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why South Suburban College Matters
South Suburban College is a public community college in South Holland, 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 Community College
- Carnegie Class
- Associate's College
- Enrollment
- 2,042
- Setting
- Suburban
- Primary Strengths
- Humanities, Health Professions, Visual & Performing Arts, Culinary & Personal Services
Why students choose South Suburban 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 $3,242 a year after grants and scholarships — 81% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $33,680 ten years after enrolling — 17% below the typical college.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Strong cross-class social capital — an economic-connectedness score of 1.04 (Opportunity Insights).
See mobility →Overview
Over 2,000 students choose South Suburban College each year, making it a significant option for those seeking affordable education in Illinois. The net price for attendance is just $3,242, which is among the lowest in the region. This accessibility makes it an attractive choice for many local residents.
The Chetty/Opportunity Insights data highlights that South Suburban College has potential for upward mobility, although specific mobility rates are not available. This means that while many students come from low-income backgrounds, the college supports their pursuit of better economic opportunities. The graduation rate sits at 26%, indicating challenges but also opportunities for growth and support for students.
Graduates can expect to earn an average of $33,680 within ten years of completing their studies. The college serves a diverse student body with programs in humanities, health professions, visual arts, culinary services, and legal studies, catering to a variety of interests and career paths. While 24% of students receive Pell Grants, the focus on affordability and practical career training helps many thrive in their chosen fields.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective South Suburban 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 South Suburban College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in South Holland, Illinois, South Suburban College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 26%.
- Retention Rate
- 63%
- Full-Time Faculty
- 32%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $8,560
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 15:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.59
- First-Gen Students
- 45%
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 South Suburban College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at South Suburban College is $12,683, 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 $3,242. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $2,722 after need-based grants.
- In-State Tuition
- $5,093
- Out-of-State
- $12,683
- Avg Net Price
- $3,242
- Pell Grant Rate
- 24%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 0%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $2,722
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $1,767
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $5,371
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Graduate Outcomes
Is South Suburban College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of South Suburban College report median earnings of $33,680, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $27,389
- 8 Years
- $31,215
- 10 Years
- $33,680
- Earning > $25K
- 38%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (19)
- 7%
- 100% (19)
- 7%
- 100% (19)
- 7%
- 100% (19)
- 7%
How South Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
College ROI Calculator
Is South Suburban College Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, South Suburban College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $3,242/year ($12,968 total). Graduates earn $33,680 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $874,328 in total earnings — a net gain of $861,360 (67.4× your investment).. With a 26% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $12,968
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $874,328
- Net Return
- $861,360
- ROI Multiple
- 67.4×
- Cost Per Year
- $3,242
- Graduation Rate
- 26%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Top Programs
The fields South Suburban 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 41%
- Health Professions 37%
- Visual & Performing Arts 3%
- Culinary & Personal Services 2%
- Legal Studies 2%
- Precision Production 2%
- Computer Science & IT 1%
- Business & Marketing 1%
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for South Suburban 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
- CSales Manager$135,160 · 4% growthAdaptable 64
- B-Software Developer$132,270 · 25% growthVulnerable 40
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into South Suburban College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in South Holland, Illinois, South Suburban College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 26%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend South Suburban College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at South Suburban College is $12,683, 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 $3,242. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $2,722 after need-based grants.
Is South Suburban College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of South Suburban College report median earnings of $33,680, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
How Connected Is South Suburban 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 South Suburban College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.04, 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 South Suburban College.
- Craven Community CollegeNew Bern, NC · Close peer47% grad $34,231 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar size · similar net price
- College of the AlbemarleElizabeth City, NC · Close peer37% grad $33,234 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar size
- Lake Michigan CollegeBenton Harbor, MI · Close peer22% grad $34,466 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Wilson Community CollegeWilson, NC · Close peer33% grad $32,973 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Dyersburg State Community CollegeDyersburg, TN · Close peer31% grad $36,132 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Coastal Bend CollegeBeeville, TX · Close peer14% grad $35,086 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar size
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is South Suburban 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 South Suburban College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.04, 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