Illinois Central College is a public institution offering associate degrees based in East Peoria, Illinois. It enrolls 5,052 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
62/100
UCD Score · 2-Year
Outcomes60
Value39
Affordability30
Selectivity—
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
As a two-year college, Illinois Central College 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 Illinois Central College 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 $12,961 per year. That's below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$12,961
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
24%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
8%
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)
$4,800
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$12,150
Room & Board (off-campus)
$15,300
Books & Supplies
$2,500
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$3,700
Total Cost of Attendance
$18,938
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
$10,000
$30,001 – $48,000
$10,437
$48,001 – $75,000
$13,386
$75,001 – $110,000
$17,255
Over $110,000
$18,325
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.
$1,18410%percentile
$1,98025%percentile
$8,900Medianpercentile
$7,53175%percentile
$12,38090%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 $5,250
↓ $3,650
No Pell $5,585
↓ $3,315
Dependent students $5,500
↓ $3,400
Independent students $6,246
↓ $2,654
Female students $5,500
↓ $3,400
Male students $5,500
↓ $3,400
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $5,050, less than completers ($8,900), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
19% of full-time students who enrolled at Illinois Central College graduate within six years, and 71% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
19%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
71%
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 Illinois Central College earn a median of $37,366 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$37,366
Earning > $25K
62%
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
$31,200
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$42,200
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$30,200
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$39,500
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$46,100
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $11,000, about 26% 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 ↑
16.2 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Strong. 74% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Illinois Central College is home to 5,052 students, a large student community. Some distinctive traits: 43% are first-generation college students, 59% study part-time.
Total Enrolled
5,052
Part-Time
59%
First-Generation
43%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 65.8%3,324
Black 16.1%814
Other 7.4%372
Hispanic 6.7%338
Asian 1.9%97
International 1.9%96
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Illinois Central College. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Large SuburbEast Peoria, Illinois
Housing
Commuter campusNo on-campus housing
Adult Learners
24%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
What You Can Study
Illinois Central College offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
45 distinct programs across
17 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 Illinois Central College is 16:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
16:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$7,029
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$26M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$78,292
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
158 instructional faculty across 5 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
Full Professors
100
63%
$86,830
Associate Professors
12
8%
$69,928
Assistant Professors
21
13%
$64,761
Instructors
18
11%
$59,805
No Rank
7
4%
$58,793
Pros & Cons of Illinois Central College
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Illinois Central College tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Below-average net price
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
Earnings outcomes are on the lower side
Predominantly serves middle- and upper-income families
Mostly part-time student body, less full-time campus feel
Best for:
Based on the data, Illinois Central College is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier; working adults or students needing part-time study options.
Frequently Asked Questions about Illinois Central College
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Illinois Central College.
Is Illinois Central College hard to get into?
Illinois Central College has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted.
What is the acceptance rate at Illinois Central College?
Illinois Central College has an acceptance rate of 0%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does Illinois Central College cost?
The average net price after aid at Illinois Central College is $12,961 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Illinois Central College worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $37,366 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $12,961 per year. That's roughly 2.9x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Illinois Central College known for?
Illinois Central College is best known for its programs in Liberal Arts, Nursing, Medical Assisting. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Illinois Central College graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Illinois Central College are $37,366, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Illinois Central College accredited?
Yes. Illinois Central College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
How many students attend Illinois Central College?
Illinois Central College enrolls 5,052 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Illinois Central College?
Illinois Central College graduates 19% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Illinois Central College a public or private college?
Illinois Central College is a Public institution.
Where is Illinois Central College located?
Illinois Central College is located in East Peoria, Illinois.
What programs does Illinois Central College offer?
Illinois Central College offers 45 distinct programs. The most popular include Liberal Arts, Nursing, Medical Assisting.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Illinois Central College?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Illinois Central College is 16:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
Related Colleges in Illinois
Other colleges in Illinois share the same applicant pool, regional economy, and academic landscape. Comparing nearby options puts admissions, costs, and outcomes in context, useful when weighing your fit against local alternatives.
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