College of Lake County is a public institution offering associate degrees based in Grayslake, Illinois. It enrolls 9,420 students (a large student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (2-Year). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Good
69/100
UCD Score · 2-Year
Outcomes51
Value74
Affordability44
Selectivity—
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
As a two-year college, College of Lake County generally admits all qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
Open
SAT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending College of Lake County isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $7,607 per year. That's well below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$7,607
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
24%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
2%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees (in-state)
$4,788
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$14,400
Room & Board (off-campus)
$16,800
Books & Supplies
$1,680
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$5,488
Total Cost of Attendance
$12,694
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$6,096
$30,001 – $48,000
$6,786
$48,001 – $75,000
$8,678
Over $110,000
$11,025
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$1,31210%percentile
$2,25025%percentile
$8,735Medianpercentile
$7,31675%percentile
$12,14790%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $5,462
↓ $3,273
No Pell $5,158
↓ $3,577
Dependent students $4,550
↓ $4,185
Independent students $7,000
↓ $1,735
Female students $5,500
↓ $3,235
Male students $4,855
↓ $3,880
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $4,545, less than completers ($8,735), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
22% of full-time students who enrolled at College of Lake County graduate within six years, and 72% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
22%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
72%
Returning for their second year
What this means:
Lower than typical completion. Worth asking the school how they support students who fall behind.
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered College of Lake County earn a median of $43,424 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$43,424
Earning > $25K
69%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$34,900
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$41,500
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$32,700
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$42,000
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$47,700
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $6,600, about 16% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
11.5 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Strong. 74% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.
Who Studies Here
College of Lake County is home to 9,420 students, a large student community. Some distinctive traits: 52% are first-generation college students, 63% study part-time.
Total Enrolled
9,420
Part-Time
63%
First-Generation
52%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
Hispanic 48.2%4,543
White 30.4%2,864
Black 7.4%692
Asian 5.4%510
Other 3.6%336
International 1.4%129
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at College of Lake County. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Large SuburbGrayslake, Illinois
Housing
Commuter campusNo on-campus housing
Adult Learners
37%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
Designation
Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI)
What You Can Study
College of Lake County offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
57 distinct programs across
19 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at College of Lake County is 16:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
16:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$6,715
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$3.1M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$112,788
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
216 instructional faculty across 1 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Instructors
216
100%
$112,788
Pros & Cons of College of Lake County
A quick at-a-glance summary of how College of Lake County tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Very affordable net price after aid
Open admissions
Reasonable class sizes
Low typical debt at graduation
First-gen-friendly student body
Flexible part-time enrollment options
CONS
Low completion rate, many students don't graduate within six years
Modest first-year retention
Predominantly serves middle- and upper-income families
Mostly part-time student body, less full-time campus feel
Best for:
Based on the data, College of Lake County is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier; families focused on keeping net cost low; working adults or students needing part-time study options.
Frequently Asked Questions about College of Lake County
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about College of Lake County.
Is College of Lake County hard to get into?
College of Lake County has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted.
What is the acceptance rate at College of Lake County?
College of Lake County has an acceptance rate of 0%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does College of Lake County cost?
The average net price after aid at College of Lake County is $7,607 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is College of Lake County worth it?
Strong return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $43,424 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $7,607 per year. That's roughly 5.7x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is College of Lake County known for?
College of Lake County is best known for its programs in Liberal Arts, Liberal Arts, Practical Nursing. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do College of Lake County graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering College of Lake County are $43,424, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is College of Lake County accredited?
Yes. College of Lake County is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
How many students attend College of Lake County?
College of Lake County enrolls 9,420 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at College of Lake County?
College of Lake County graduates 22% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is College of Lake County a public or private college?
College of Lake County is a Public institution.
Where is College of Lake County located?
College of Lake County is located in Grayslake, Illinois.
What programs does College of Lake County offer?
College of Lake County offers 57 distinct programs. The most popular include Liberal Arts, Liberal Arts, Practical Nursing.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at College of Lake County?
The student-to-faculty ratio at College of Lake County is 16:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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