William Rainey Harper College is a public institution offering associate degrees based in Palatine, Illinois. It enrolls 9,313 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
68/100
UCD Score · 2-Year
Outcomes66
Value57
Affordability29
Selectivity—
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
As a two-year college, William Rainey Harper 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 William Rainey Harper 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 $11,607 per year. That's below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$11,607
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
20%
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)
$3,894
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$11,874
Room & Board (off-campus)
$14,251
Books & Supplies
$1,100
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$12,139
Total Cost of Attendance
$19,288
Application fee: $25 (one-time, due at submission)
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
$9,446
$30,001 – $48,000
$10,501
$48,001 – $75,000
$13,426
$75,001 – $110,000
$16,866
Over $110,000
$18,676
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
$2,75125%percentile
$10,184Medianpercentile
$10,50075%percentile
$19,00090%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 $6,792
↓ $3,392
No Pell $5,500
↓ $4,684
Dependent students $5,500
↓ $4,684
Independent students $9,500
↓ $684
Female students $7,150
↓ $3,034
Male students $5,500
↓ $4,684
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $5,500, less than completers ($10,184), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
21% of full-time students who enrolled at William Rainey Harper College graduate within six years, and 77% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
21%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
77%
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 William Rainey Harper College earn a median of $48,071 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$48,071
Earning > $25K
71%
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
$39,700
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$46,200
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$39,000
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$45,300
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$48,100
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $6,500, 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 ↑
19.2 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Strong. 76% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.
Who Studies Here
William Rainey Harper College is home to 9,313 students, a large student community. Some distinctive traits: 47% are first-generation college students, 58% study part-time.
Total Enrolled
9,313
Part-Time
58%
First-Generation
47%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 41.6%3,878
Hispanic 33.4%3,113
Asian 12.7%1,183
Other 5.3%496
Black 4.8%448
International 1.8%169
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at William Rainey Harper College. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Large SuburbPalatine, Illinois
Housing
Commuter campusNo on-campus housing
Adult Learners
30%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
Designation
Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI)
What You Can Study
William Rainey Harper College offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
51 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 William Rainey Harper College is 20:1, on the higher side.
Student : Faculty
20:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$6,858
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$40M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$100,467
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
196 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
79
40%
$123,864
Associate Professors
52
27%
$101,751
Assistant Professors
35
18%
$78,760
Instructors
30
15%
$61,952
Pros & Cons of William Rainey Harper College
A quick at-a-glance summary of how William Rainey Harper College tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Below-average net price
Open admissions
Low typical debt at graduation
First-gen-friendly student body
Flexible part-time enrollment options
CONS
Larger class sizes than typical
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, William Rainey Harper 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 William Rainey Harper College
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about William Rainey Harper College.
Is William Rainey Harper College hard to get into?
William Rainey Harper College has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted.
What is the acceptance rate at William Rainey Harper College?
William Rainey Harper College has an acceptance rate of 0%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does William Rainey Harper College cost?
The average net price after aid at William Rainey Harper College is $11,607 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is William Rainey Harper College worth it?
Solid return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $48,071 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $11,607 per year. That's roughly 4.1x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is William Rainey Harper College known for?
William Rainey Harper College 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 William Rainey Harper College graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering William Rainey Harper College are $48,071, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is William Rainey Harper College accredited?
Yes. William Rainey Harper College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
How many students attend William Rainey Harper College?
William Rainey Harper College enrolls 9,313 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at William Rainey Harper College?
William Rainey Harper College graduates 21% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is William Rainey Harper College a public or private college?
William Rainey Harper College is a Public institution.
Where is William Rainey Harper College located?
William Rainey Harper College is located in Palatine, Illinois.
What programs does William Rainey Harper College offer?
William Rainey Harper College offers 51 distinct programs. The most popular include Liberal Arts, Liberal Arts, Practical Nursing.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at William Rainey Harper College?
The student-to-faculty ratio at William Rainey Harper College is 20:1, 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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