William Rainey Harper College
Bottom line: A B- overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 25.9× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $25.9 over 20 years.
Every $1 spent returns $25.9 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,158,326.
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What The Data Says
A B- overall — outcomes above the typical U.S. college.
Every $1 invested returns $25.9 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why William Rainey Harper College Matters
William Rainey Harper College is a public college in Palatine, IL and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: graduate earnings well above the typical college.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Public College
- Carnegie Class
- Associate's College
- Enrollment
- 9,313
- Setting
- Suburban
- Designations
- HSI
- Primary Strengths
- Humanities, Health Professions, Business & Marketing, Precision Production
Why students choose William Rainey Harper 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 $11,607 a year after grants and scholarships — 32% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $48,071 ten years after enrolling — 18% above the typical college, against $10,184 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Strong cross-class social capital — an economic-connectedness score of 1.55 (Opportunity Insights).
See mobility →Overview
Over 9,300 students choose William Rainey Harper College for its affordable education, with a net price of just $11,607. This makes it a viable option for many seeking to minimize their college expenses while pursuing their academic goals.
Data from Opportunity Insights suggests that while graduation rates stand at 47%, the potential for upward mobility remains a crucial consideration. Graduates earn an average of $48,071 within ten years of completing their studies. This indicates that those who earn their degrees can achieve a comfortable living, even if the path to graduation may be challenging for some.
Students who thrive at Harper College often gravitate towards programs in Humanities, Health Professions, Business & Marketing, and Computer Science & IT. With a median debt of $10,184, this institution attracts individuals looking for practical skills that lead directly to employment. The college supports a diverse student body, including a 20% enrollment of Pell Grant recipients, making it accessible for many.
Can I Get In?
How selective William Rainey Harper College is — and how your numbers stack up.
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Will I Be Accepted?
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Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into William Rainey Harper College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
William Rainey Harper College, located in Palatine, Illinois, enrolls students across a range of programs. The school reports a graduation rate of roughly 47%.
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 William Rainey Harper College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
When weighing the true cost of attending William Rainey Harper College, prospective students should look past the published sticker price of $11,874 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 $11,607 for families who qualify for aid. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $9,446 after need-based grants. Graduates leave with a median federal student-loan debt of about $10,184.
What Families Actually Pay
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Graduate Outcomes
Is William Rainey Harper College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of William Rainey Harper College earn a median of $48,071, roughly in line with national averages for graduates.
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
How William 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 William Rainey Harper College Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, William Rainey Harper College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $11,607/year ($46,428 total). Graduates earn $48,071 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,204,754 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,158,326 (25.9× your investment). The median debt is $10,184, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 47% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
Top Programs
The fields William Rainey Harper 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.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for William Rainey Harper College's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into William Rainey Harper College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements +
William Rainey Harper College, located in Palatine, Illinois, enrolls students across a range of programs. The school reports a graduation rate of roughly 47%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend William Rainey Harper College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid +
When weighing the true cost of attending William Rainey Harper College, prospective students should look past the published sticker price of $11,874 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 $11,607 for families who qualify for aid. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $9,446 after need-based grants. Graduates leave with a median federal student-loan debt of about $10,184.
Is William Rainey Harper College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI +
Ten years out, alumni of William Rainey Harper College earn a median of $48,071, roughly in line with national averages for graduates.
How Connected Is William Rainey Harper 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 William Rainey Harper College, with an economic connectedness score of 1.55 (about 1.0 is the national norm). Its friending bias is low (0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds genuinely mix rather than self-segregate. Around 5% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to William Rainey Harper College.
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is William Rainey Harper 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 William Rainey Harper College, with an economic connectedness score of 1.55 (about 1.0 is the national norm). Its friending bias is low (0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds genuinely mix rather than self-segregate. Around 5% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note