Prairie State College
A good fit for families who need the lowest possible cost and students who prefer a mid-size campus. graduation rate is below 25% — most students don't finish here. a public school with 2,443 students.
About This School
Prairie State College is a public institution located in Chicago Heights, Illinois with approximately 2,443 undergraduate students enrolled. The average net price after financial aid is $4,738 per year. The graduation rate is 20%, and the typical graduate earns $33,300 within 10 years of enrollment.
Prairie State College is a public community college in Chicago Heights, Illinois. It is the only college operated by Illinois Community College District 515.
Worth considering if you're looking to keep costs low while staying close to home — at just $5,280/year average net price and only $8,000 in median debt at graduation, the financial risk here is minimal. That said, the median earnings of $33,300 a decade out suggest most graduates aren't landing high-paying careers, so this makes the most sense as a stepping stone toward a four-year transfer or a specific trade credential rather than a direct path to strong earning potential.
Popular Programs
Percentage of degrees awarded. Source: College Scorecard.
Admissions
SAT Scores
ACT Scores
Cost & Financial Aid
Net Price by Family Income
Average annual cost after grants/scholarships, by household income. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Financial Aid
Full Cost
After Graduation
Earnings 6 Years After Enrollment, by Gender
Gap: 8% less for female graduates. National avg ~16%.
What Each Major Actually Earns
Median earnings four years after graduation, by major, next to the national median for that same major at every college. The school-wide average hides this: at most schools the spread between the best- and worst-paying majors is far wider than the gap between schools.
Prairie State College graduates earn most above the national rate in Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing ($87,212 vs $80,813 nationally).
| Major | Grads | Here | National | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | 198 | $47,062 | $44,125 | +$2,937 |
| Dental Support Services and Allied Professions | 35 | $65,505 | $61,982 | +$3,523 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 30 | $87,212 | $80,813 | +$6,399 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 3 | $47,550 | $48,733 | −$1,183 |
U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard field-of-study data. Median earnings of graduates working and not enrolled four years after completing an associate's degreehere. Majors with too few graduates to report are omitted for privacy, so this is not the school's full program list.
Will This School Pay Off?
Strong return. Graduates earn well above their debt load.
Earnings data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. These are means across all graduates, not specific to any major.
Student Body
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (2,443 undergraduates).
Contact & Location
Address
Prairie State College
202 South Halsted Street
Chicago Heights, IL 60411-8226
Official Links
Schools Like This in Illinois
Lewis and Clark Community College
Godfrey, IL · Public
Lake Land College
Mattoon, IL · Public
City Colleges of Chicago-Harry S Truman College
Chicago, IL · Public
City Colleges of Chicago-Richard J Daley College
Chicago, IL · Public
Morton College
Cicero, IL · Public
Black Hawk College
Moline, IL · Public
See How Colleges Compare
Prairie State College is one of thousands of colleges in our data studies, each built from the same U.S. Department of Education data shown on this page. Compare schools head to head:
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does Prairie State College cost?
The average net price at Prairie State College is about $4,738 per year after grants and scholarships, based on federal data. Your actual cost depends on your family's finances and aid package.
What is the graduation rate at Prairie State College?
Prairie State College has a graduation rate of 20%, according to U.S. Department of Education data.
Sources & Methodology
Primary data source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Accessed via automated sync. Latest values may come from different reporting years depending on the metric.
School overview from Wikipedia. Used for context only, not as a primary data source for admissions, cost, or outcomes claims.
- Earnings figures are institution-level averages, not major-specific.
- Some metrics are based on Title IV financial aid recipients only.
- Some values may be privacy-suppressed or rolled up by the Department of Education.
- Contact the school directly for current admissions requirements and costs.
All school names, logos, and trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Their use on this page is for identification purposes only and does not imply endorsement or affiliation with CollegeHelpGuide.