Parkland College is a public institution offering associate degrees based in Champaign, Illinois. It enrolls 3,348 students (a mid-sized 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
63/100
UCD Score · 2-Year
Outcomes37
Value64
Affordability44
Selectivity—
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
As a two-year college, Parkland 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 Parkland 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 $8,048 per year. That's well below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$8,048
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
25%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
13%
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)
$4,284
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$13,266
Room & Board (off-campus)
$9,400
Books & Supplies
$1,200
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$3,010
Total Cost of Attendance
$14,995
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
$7,659
$30,001 – $48,000
$6,888
$48,001 – $75,000
$10,408
$75,001 – $110,000
$14,299
Over $110,000
$14,995
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.
$1,75010%percentile
$2,25025%percentile
$8,548Medianpercentile
$8,00075%percentile
$12,12490%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
↓ $3,298
No Pell $4,835
↓ $3,713
Dependent students $5,250
↓ $3,298
Independent students $5,250
↓ $3,298
Female students $5,250
↓ $3,298
Male students $5,250
↓ $3,298
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $4,500, less than completers ($8,548), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
19% of full-time students who enrolled at Parkland College graduate within six years, and 67% 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
67%
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 Parkland College earn a median of $38,320 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$38,320
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
$29,900
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$41,400
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$31,000
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$37,400
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$44,100
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $11,500, 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 ↑
9.6 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Moderate. Only 67% of graduates are paying down principal seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Parkland College is home to 3,348 students, a mid-sized community. Some distinctive traits: 39% are first-generation college students, 48% study part-time.
Total Enrolled
3,348
Part-Time
48%
First-Generation
39%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 57.3%1,918
Black 14.4%483
Hispanic 12.9%431
Other 7.2%242
Asian 4.2%142
International 3.1%105
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Parkland College. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Small CityChampaign, Illinois
Housing
Commuter campusNo on-campus housing
Adult Learners
23%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
What You Can Study
Parkland College offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
54 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 Parkland College is 15:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
15:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$11,014
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$15M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$81,678
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
145 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
56
39%
$96,702
Associate Professors
52
36%
$80,132
Assistant Professors
5
3%
$83,340
Instructors
32
22%
$57,637
Pros & Cons of Parkland College
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Parkland 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
CONS
Low completion rate, many students don't graduate within six years
First-year retention is below typical
Earnings outcomes are on the lower side
Best for:
Based on the data, Parkland 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 Parkland College
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Parkland College.
Is Parkland College hard to get into?
Parkland College has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted.
What is the acceptance rate at Parkland College?
Parkland College has an acceptance rate of 0%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does Parkland College cost?
The average net price after aid at Parkland College is $8,048 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Parkland College worth it?
Solid return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $38,320 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $8,048 per year. That's roughly 4.8x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Parkland College known for?
Parkland College is best known for its programs in Liberal Arts, Liberal Arts, Biological and Physical Sciences. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Parkland College graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Parkland College are $38,320, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Parkland College accredited?
Yes. Parkland College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
How many students attend Parkland College?
Parkland College enrolls 3,348 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Parkland College?
Parkland College graduates 19% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Parkland College a public or private college?
Parkland College is a Public institution.
Where is Parkland College located?
Parkland College is located in Champaign, Illinois.
What programs does Parkland College offer?
Parkland College offers 54 distinct programs. The most popular include Liberal Arts, Liberal Arts, Biological and Physical Sciences.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Parkland College?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Parkland College is 15:1, 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.
Liberal Arts
Liberal Arts
Biological and Physical Sciences
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