Prairie State College

202 South Halsted Street, Chicago Heights, IL

The Prairie State College motto is fitting for a local community college: “Start near. Go far.” The college, which opened its doors in 1958, is located in Chicago Heights, Illinois. A two-year community college, it is the only institution run by the Illinois Community College District 515. Prairie State opens the world to its students, offering over 100 choices of certification and academic courses of study. Students leave the halls of Prairie State primed for success in the working world or prepared to matriculate to institutions of higher learning. A majority of the faculty holds master’s and doctoral degrees and works full time at the school. And thanks to the school’s transfer agreements with many highly regarded baccalaureate institutions; its students have a plethora of educational options available to them upon graduation.

Since the college experience is about developing a well-rounded individual, Prairie State offers many extracurricular clubs and activities, encouraging students to branch out academically, culturally, and socially. Students wishing to take a break from studies can also take advantage of the school’s proximity to the Windy City. Chicago offers cultural enrichment in the form of museums, concerts, the theater, and much more.

Cost effectiveness is a hallmark of the community college, and Prairie State is no exception, with tuition rates that will save you thousands of dollars. If you’re looking for features that make a difference between an acceptable education and an exceptional education, Prairie State is the logical choice. Its dedicated faculty and abundance of degree/certification plans will help you start near but go very far, indeed.

Estimated Costs & Financial Aid

The average "out of pocket" cost of attendance, after any grants and scholarships are considered, is around $7,800. To calculate a more personalized cost visit the net price calculator. The figures listed below are for informational purposes only and do not represent current or future tuition, fees, and expenses.

Tuition & Fees Information

Tuition estimates per year:
- State Residents: $2,900-$3,500
- Out-of-State: $8,700-$10,450
Charges per unit:
- State Residents: $140-$170 per credit unit
- Nonresidents: $390-$460 per credit unit

Financial Aid Details

The table below breaks down the types of financial aid, the percent of students receiving aid, and average amount of aid per student per year.

	Percent of Students	Average Amount
Any Financial Aid	63%	-
Receiving Grants & Scholarships	55%	$5,611
Receiving Student Loans	24%	$5,275

Admissions, Academics, & Student Services

Student Services

To help students and recent graduates, Prairie State College may provide services to students like those listed below:

Distance learning
Weekend and night classes available
Remedial courses
Academic counseling for students
Student employment
Assisting students to find work
Day care for children

Graduation & Transfer Rates

Many community colleges are not only a source of technical or career training but also a stepping stone for students to transfer-out to a 4-year college, therefore we have included both graduation and transfer rates below and how this school compares against other community colleges in Cook County and community colleges in Illinois as a whole.

	Prairie State College	Cook County	Illinois
Graduation Rate	12.9%	14.9%	23.9%
Transfer-out Rate	35.1%	28.7%	26.6%

Specialized Programs & Accreditations

Dental Hygienist Program
- Accredited by the American Dental Association, Commission on Dental Accreditation (since 1969)
Associate's Degree in Nursing (ADN) Program
- Accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing, Inc. ? May 6, 2013 Formerly: National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (since 1975)
- Compare all associate's degree in nursing (ADN) programs in Illinois

Programs Offered

The program list below is organized by areas of study. The programs that have a link will direct you to the program's profile page where you can learn more about education requirements and career pathways.