Southwestern Illinois College
- Graduation Rate
- 37% D
- Lower completion rate than most colleges
- Earnings (10yr)
- $36,884 C-
- Below average for college graduates
- Net Price
- $10,427 B
- 39% less than the typical college
- Enrollment
- 5,675
Bottom line: A C overall grade — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges. 22.0× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $22.0 over 20 years.
Every $1 spent returns $22.0 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $876,033.
What The Data Says
-
A C overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
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Graduation of 37% — 36% below the national average.
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Every $1 invested returns $22.0 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
About Southwestern Illinois College
Southwestern Illinois College is profiled below with full outcomes data from federal sources.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Public College
- Carnegie Class
- Associate's College
- Enrollment
- 5,675
- Setting
- Suburban
- Primary Strengths
- Humanities, Health Professions, Criminal Justice, Precision Production
Why students choose Southwestern Illinois 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 $10,427 a year after grants and scholarships — 39% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $36,884 ten years after enrolling — 10% below the typical college, against $6,908 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 1.0% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 74% nationally for mobility. High social capital (0.89 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
Southwestern Illinois College serves 5,675 students, with a graduation rate of 37%. This number reflects the challenges many community college students face but also highlights the potential for growth and learning in a supportive environment.
According to Opportunity Insights data, outcomes for students from Southwestern Illinois College vary widely. While specific mobility rates are not available, the focus on practical programs like health professions and computer science positions students for career advancement. Many students who complete their programs can achieve financial stability and upward mobility, particularly those who take advantage of internships and local job opportunities.
The net price for attending Southwestern Illinois College is $10,427, making it an accessible option for many. Graduates report average earnings of $36,884 within ten years, alongside a median debt of $6,908. Students who thrive here often come from diverse backgrounds and appreciate the college's emphasis on practical skills and career readiness.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective Southwestern Illinois 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 Southwestern Illinois College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Belleville, Illinois, Southwestern Illinois College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 37%.
- Retention Rate
- 68%
- Full-Time Faculty
- 34%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $7,520
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 17:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.60
- First-Gen Students
- 43%
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 Southwestern Illinois College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Southwestern Illinois College is $6,720, 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 $10,427. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $9,136 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $6,908 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $3,960
- Out-of-State
- $6,720
- Avg Net Price
- $10,427
- Median Debt
- $6,908
- Pell Grant Rate
- 25%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 10%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $9,136
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $8,769
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $11,473
- Family Income $110K+
- $15,587
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Southwestern Illinois College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Southwestern Illinois College report median earnings of $36,884, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $30,872
- 8 Years
- $33,670
- 10 Years
- $36,884
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.19x
- Earning > $25K
- 40%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (136)
- 16%
- 100% (136)
- 16%
- 100% (136)
- 16%
- 100% (136)
- 16%
How Southwestern 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 Southwestern Illinois College Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Southwestern Illinois College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $10,427/year ($41,708 total). Graduates earn $36,884 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $917,741 in total earnings — a net gain of $876,033 (22.0× your investment). The median debt is $6,908, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 37% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $41,708
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $917,741
- Net Return
- $876,033
- ROI Multiple
- 22.0×
- Cost Per Year
- $10,427
- Median Debt
- $6,908
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 37%
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 Southwestern Illinois College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Southwestern Illinois 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 1.03%, in line with strong performers nationally. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 12% 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 8.6% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $73,100, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 1.03%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 8.6%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 12.0%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $73,100
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Endowment
- $5,838,255
- Investment Income
- $259,441
Top Programs
The fields Southwestern Illinois 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 25%
- Health Professions 23%
- Criminal Justice 16%
- Precision Production 8%
- Computer Science & IT 5%
- Mechanic & Repair Tech 5%
- Construction Trades 4%
- Business & Marketing 2%
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Southwestern Illinois 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 Southwestern Illinois College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Belleville, Illinois, Southwestern Illinois College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 37%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Southwestern Illinois College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Southwestern Illinois College is $6,720, 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 $10,427. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $9,136 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $6,908 in federal student loans.
Is Southwestern Illinois College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Southwestern Illinois College report median earnings of $36,884, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
Does Southwestern Illinois College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Southwestern Illinois 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 1.03%, in line with strong performers nationally. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 12% 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 8.6% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $73,100, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Southwestern Illinois College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs around the national average at Southwestern Illinois College. Its economic connectedness score is 0.89, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias sits near the middle of the range (0.11). Around 7% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Southwestern Illinois College.
- Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community CollegeAsheville, NC · Close peer36% grad $36,048 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Illinois Central CollegeEast Peoria, IL · Close peer45% grad $37,366 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Lanier Technical CollegeGainesville, GA · Close peer35% grad $37,623 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Reedley CollegeReedley, CA · Close peer42% grad $38,493 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Saint Paul CollegeSaint Paul, MN · Close peer36% grad $38,399 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Piedmont Technical CollegeGreenwood, SC · Close peer33% grad $35,768 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Southwestern Illinois College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs around the national average at Southwestern Illinois College. Its economic connectedness score is 0.89, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias sits near the middle of the range (0.11). Around 7% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note