William Rainey Harper College
A good fit for families who need the lowest possible cost and in-state Illinois residents. no major red flags in the data. a public school with 8,815 students.
About This School
William Rainey Harper College is a public institution located in Palatine, Illinois with approximately 8,815 undergraduate students enrolled. The average net price after financial aid is $6,186 per year. Typical graduates earn $42,600 within 10 years of enrollment.
William Rainey Harper College is a public community college in Palatine, Illinois. It was established by referendum in 1965 and opened in September 1967. It is named for William Rainey Harper, a pioneer in the junior college movement in the United States and the first president of the University of Chicago.
This is a strong option for cost-conscious students in the Chicago suburbs — at just $6,186/year average net price and a median debt of only $6,230 at graduation, it's one of the most affordable paths to a two-year degree or transfer opportunity you'll find. The trade-off worth acknowledging is that median earnings of $42,600 a decade out reflect the reality that many graduates either transfer to four-year schools (where future earnings depend on where they land) or enter fields that aren't high-paying. Worth considering if you have a clear transfer plan or career pathway in mind — without that focus, the value proposition gets murkier.
Popular Programs
Percentage of degrees awarded. Source: College Scorecard.
Admissions
SAT Scores
ACT Scores
Cost & Financial Aid
Financial Aid
Full Cost
After Graduation
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 (8,815 undergraduates).
Contact & Location
Official Links
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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.
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