Prairie State College

Public certificate school in Chicago Heights, IL that costs an average of $4,220 a year after financial aid and graduates 27% of full-time students.

Net price / year
$4,220
Acceptance rate
Open
Graduation rate
27%
Earnings after 10 yrs
$41,542

PublicLarge suburb2,443 undergraduates

Cost of Prairie State College

Total cost of attendance (per year)$14,149
Tuition and fees, in-state$4,176
Tuition and fees, out-of-state$11,064
Books and supplies$2,500
Average net price after aid$4,220

Net price by family income

Family incomeAverage net price / year
$0–30,000$4,128
$30,001–48,000$5,707
$48,001–75,000$4,829
$75,001–110,000$7,834

Net price is what students actually pay after grants and scholarships (in-state students). Get your own estimate with Prairie State College's net price calculator ↗.

Admissions

Acceptance rateOpen admission (everyone admitted)

Graduation, earnings and debt

Graduation rate27%
First-year retention51%
Median earnings 6 years after enrolling$36,591
Median earnings 10 years after enrolling$41,542
Rank in Illinois (earnings)39th of 100 similar colleges
Median debt of graduates$10,500
Typical monthly loan payment$119 (10-year plan)
Students with Pell grants42%
Students with federal loans7.7%

Majors and programs at Prairie State College

Earnings one year after graduation and median debt, by program. Click a program for details and comparisons.

Certificate programs (31)

ProgramGraduates (2 yrs)Earnings after 1 yrMedian debt
Fire Protection66$53,930—
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions119$44,599—
Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants268$22,771$5,500
Accounting and Related Services6——
Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services70——
Audiovisual Communications Technologies/Technicians2——
Business/Commerce9——
Computer Engineering Technologies/Technicians———
Computer Programming12——
Computer Software and Media Applications21——
Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications10——
Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management53——
Criminal Justice and Corrections1——
Culinary Arts and Related Services———
Dental Support Services and Allied Professions18——
Design and Applied Arts3——
Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians8——
Electrical and Power Transmission Installers21——
Electrical/Electronics Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians10——
Energy Systems Technologies/Technicians1——
Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations11——
Graphic Communications———
Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician (HAC, HACR, HVAC, HVACR)27——
Heavy/Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies/Technicians4——
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services2——
Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians5——
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities173——
Precision Metal Working19——
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness2——
Taxation———
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians64——

Associate's degree programs (44)

ProgramGraduates (2 yrs)Earnings after 1 yrMedian debt
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing63$80,921—
Business Administration, Management and Operations5$45,804—
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities402$45,441$10,938
Accounting and Related Services6——
Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services7——
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions14——
Audiovisual Communications Technologies/Technicians1——
Biological and Physical Sciences33——
Biology———
Biology/Biotechnology Technologies/Technicians———
Chemistry———
Communication and Media Studies———
Computer and Information Sciences20——
Computer Science———
Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management———
Criminal Justice and Corrections———
Dental Support Services and Allied Professions69—$16,686
Design and Applied Arts4——
Electrical and Power Transmission Installers10——
Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians2——
Engineering———
Fine and Studio Arts———
Fire Protection4——
Graphic Communications3——
Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences———
Health/Medical Preparatory Programs———
Heavy/Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies/Technicians———
History———
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services10——
Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians2——
Mathematics———
Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians3——
Non-Professional Legal Studies———
Political Science and Government———
Precision Metal Working———
Psychology———
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication———
Radio, Television, and Digital Communication———
Social Work———
Sociology———
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness1——
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods———
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas———
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians7——

Similar colleges in Illinois

CollegeCityNet price / yrAcceptanceEarnings
Lake Land CollegeMattoon$5,445—$44,674
Lewis and Clark Community CollegeGodfrey$4,998—$43,672
City Colleges of Chicago-Harry S Truman CollegeChicago$6,079—$41,592
Black Hawk CollegeMoline$4,349—$44,081
City Colleges of Chicago-Richard J Daley CollegeChicago$6,286—$42,018
South Suburban CollegeSouth Holland$2,011—$38,917
Illinois Valley Community CollegeOglesby$3,176—$44,450
Heartland Community CollegeNormal$15,472—$46,859

All colleges in Illinois →

About Prairie State College

TypePublic certificate school
LocationChicago Heights, IL
SettingLarge suburb
Undergraduates2,443
Student-to-faculty ratio12 to 1
AccreditorHigher Learning Commission
Websiteprairiestate.edu ↗

Frequently asked questions

How much does Prairie State College cost per year?

The full cost of attendance is $14,149 a year (tuition and fees: $4,176 in-state, $11,064 out-of-state). After grants and scholarships the average student pays $4,220 a year, and students from families earning under $30,000 pay about $4,128.

How much do Prairie State College graduates earn?

Former students earn a median of $41,542 a year, 10 years after first enrolling — 39th of 100 similar colleges in Illinois.

What is Prairie State College's graduation rate?

27% of full-time students graduate within 150% of the normal program length, and 51% of first-year students return for a second year.