Prairie State College is a public institution offering associate degrees based in Chicago Heights, Illinois. It enrolls 2,443 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
Outcomes10
Value87
Affordability65
Selectivity—
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
As a two-year college, Prairie State 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 Prairie State 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 $4,738 per year. That's well below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$4,738
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
33%
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)
$4,176
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$11,064
Room & Board (off-campus)
$7,516
Books & Supplies
$2,500
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$6,204
Total Cost of Attendance
$13,908
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
$3,546
$30,001 – $48,000
$3,013
$48,001 – $75,000
$7,839
$75,001 – $110,000
$11,127
Over $110,000
$13,908
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
$3,00025%percentile
$11,000Medianpercentile
$11,00075%percentile
$20,00090%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 $8,725
↓ $2,275
No Pell $5,850
↓ $5,150
Dependent students $5,500
↓ $5,500
Independent students $9,500
↓ $1,500
Female students $8,250
↓ $2,750
Male students $6,500
↓ $4,500
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $6,500, less than completers ($11,000), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
15% of full-time students who enrolled at Prairie State College graduate within six years, and 54% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
15%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
54%
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 Prairie State College earn a median of $36,696 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$36,696
Earning > $25K
59%
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
$31,700
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$36,800
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$30,700
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$37,800
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$42,500
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $5,100, about 14% 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 ↑
38.7 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Strong. 73% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Prairie State College is home to 2,443 students, a mid-sized community. Some distinctive traits: 39% are first-generation college students, 64% study part-time.
Total Enrolled
2,443
Part-Time
64%
First-Generation
39%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
Black 52.6%1,284
Hispanic 23.5%575
White 12.3%300
Other 5.4%131
International 1.7%41
Asian 0.9%21
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Prairie State College. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Large SuburbChicago Heights, 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)
Designation
Predominantly Black Institution (PBI)
What You Can Study
Prairie State College offers
a varied set of programs:
37 distinct programs across
14 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 Prairie State College is 11:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
11:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$5,426
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$2.5M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$80,693
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
80 instructional faculty across 3 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
39
49%
$91,159
Associate Professors
27
34%
$73,489
Assistant Professors
14
18%
$65,430
Pros & Cons of Prairie State College
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Prairie State 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
Small classes (low student-faculty ratio)
Low typical debt at graduation
Flexible part-time enrollment options
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
Mostly part-time student body, less full-time campus feel
Best for:
Based on the data, Prairie State 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 Prairie State College
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Prairie State College.
Is Prairie State College hard to get into?
Prairie State College has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted.
What is the acceptance rate at Prairie State College?
Prairie State College has an acceptance rate of 0%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does Prairie State College cost?
The average net price after aid at Prairie State College is $4,738 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Prairie State College worth it?
Strong return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $36,696 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $4,738 per year. That's roughly 7.7x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Prairie State College known for?
Prairie State College is best known for its programs in Liberal Arts, Practical Nursing, Allied Health Diagnostic. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Prairie State College graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Prairie State College are $36,696, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Prairie State College accredited?
Yes. Prairie State College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
How many students attend Prairie State College?
Prairie State College enrolls 2,443 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Prairie State College?
Prairie State College graduates 15% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Prairie State College a public or private college?
Prairie State College is a Public institution.
Where is Prairie State College located?
Prairie State College is located in Chicago Heights, Illinois.
What programs does Prairie State College offer?
Prairie State College offers 37 distinct programs. The most popular include Liberal Arts, Practical Nursing, Allied Health Diagnostic.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Prairie State College?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Prairie State College is 11:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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