Joliet Junior College is a public institution offering associate degrees based in Joliet, Illinois. It enrolls 9,306 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
Outcomes24
Value99
Affordability59
Selectivity—
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
As a two-year college, Joliet Junior 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 Joliet Junior 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 $1,672 per year. That's well below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$1,672
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
25%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
4%
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)
$4,530
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$13,800
Room & Board (off-campus)
$9,970
Books & Supplies
$1,380
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$2,500
Total Cost of Attendance
$9,452
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
$890
$30,001 – $48,000
$220
$48,001 – $75,000
$2,824
$75,001 – $110,000
$3,835
Over $110,000
$4,556
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.
$1,43010%percentile
$2,50025%percentile
$9,711Medianpercentile
$8,86075%percentile
$14,42090%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 $5,500
↓ $4,211
No Pell $5,500
↓ $4,211
Dependent students $5,484
↓ $4,227
Independent students $8,145
↓ $1,566
Female students $5,700
↓ $4,011
Male students $5,500
↓ $4,211
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $5,404, less than completers ($9,711), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
11% of full-time students who enrolled at Joliet Junior College graduate within six years, and 65% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
11%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
65%
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 Joliet Junior College earn a median of $42,889 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$42,889
Earning > $25K
68%
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
$31,800
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$44,200
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$31,700
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$39,300
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$44,600
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $12,400, about 28% 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 ↑
22.4 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Strong. 75% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Joliet Junior College is home to 9,306 students, a large student community. Some distinctive traits: 47% are first-generation college students, 58% study part-time.
Total Enrolled
9,306
Part-Time
58%
First-Generation
47%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 47.2%4,395
Hispanic 31.9%2,965
Black 10.8%1,006
Asian 3.1%291
Other 3.0%275
International 0.1%7
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Joliet Junior College. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Large SuburbJoliet, Illinois
Housing
Commuter campusNo on-campus housing
Adult Learners
26%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
Designation
Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI)
What You Can Study
Joliet Junior College offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
66 distinct programs across
18 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 Joliet Junior College is 15:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
15:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$9,103
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$28M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$112,057
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
206 instructional faculty across 4 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
142
69%
$124,161
Associate Professors
28
14%
$91,948
Assistant Professors
31
15%
$79,195
No Rank
5
2%
$84,639
Pros & Cons of Joliet Junior College
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Joliet Junior College 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
First-year retention is below typical
Predominantly serves middle- and upper-income families
Mostly part-time student body, less full-time campus feel
Best for:
Based on the data, Joliet Junior College 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 Joliet Junior College
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Joliet Junior College.
Is Joliet Junior College hard to get into?
Joliet Junior College has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted.
What is the acceptance rate at Joliet Junior College?
Joliet Junior College has an acceptance rate of 0%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does Joliet Junior College cost?
The average net price after aid at Joliet Junior College is $1,672 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Joliet Junior College worth it?
Strong return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $42,889 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $1,672 per year. That's roughly 25.7x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Joliet Junior College known for?
Joliet Junior College is best known for its programs in Liberal Arts, Practical Nursing, Biological and Physical Sciences. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Joliet Junior College graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Joliet Junior College are $42,889, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Joliet Junior College accredited?
Yes. Joliet Junior College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
How many students attend Joliet Junior College?
Joliet Junior College enrolls 9,306 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Joliet Junior College?
Joliet Junior College graduates 11% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Joliet Junior College a public or private college?
Joliet Junior College is a Public institution.
Where is Joliet Junior College located?
Joliet Junior College is located in Joliet, Illinois.
What programs does Joliet Junior College offer?
Joliet Junior College offers 66 distinct programs. The most popular include Liberal Arts, Practical Nursing, Biological and Physical Sciences.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Joliet Junior College?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Joliet Junior College is 15:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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