Prairie State College campus
Prairie State College logo

Prairie State College

Chicago Heights, IL 2 year Public
Type 2 year, Public
Campus locale Suburb: Large
Degrees offered Undergraduate
Calendar system Semester
Student body size Small
Student to faculty ratio 10 to 1
Students retention rate 53%
On-time graduation rate 17%

Located in Chicago Heights, Illinois, Prairie State College is a public, institution that offers undergraduate degrees. The college operates on a semester-based calendar system, providing students with structured academic terms.

One of the notable aspects of Prairie State College is its open admission policy. This means that all high school graduates and individuals who hold a GED qualification are eligible to apply for admission. This inclusive approach allows a wide range of students to pursue their higher education goals, regardless of their academic background.

Prairie State College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, ensuring that the institution meets certain standards of quality and effectiveness. This accreditation also allows students to transfer credits to other accredited institutions if they choose to continue their education elsewhere.

With a students-to-faculty ratio of 10-to-1, Prairie State College emphasizes small class sizes, fostering a supportive and interactive learning environment.

While the on-time graduation rate at Prairie State College is reported to be 17%, it is essential to consider the context of this statistic. For comparison, Illinois state's graduation rate for the 2021-2022 was 48% whereas the national average was 35%.

The retention rate of students at Prairie State College is 53% , which is lower than both the state and national averages. The state average retention rate in Illinois is 70%, while the national average is 61%. This indicates that a significant proportion of students who enroll at Prairie State College do not continue their studies after the first year.


  • Accredited by: Higher Learning Commission

In-State Tuition & Fees

$9,342

Cost of attendance at Prairie State College in 2022 for students from Illinois.

See how the college's in-state sticker price compares to 2 year , public colleges in the state as well as nationally.

Illinois's average $13,029
National average $4,604

Out-of-State Tuition & Fees

$11,064

Cost of attendance at Prairie State College in 2022 for the out-of-state and international students

See how the college's out-of-state sticker price compares to 2 year , public colleges in the state as well as nationally.

Illinois's average $19,104
National average $8,757

Average Grant & Scholarships

In 2022, 60 of freshman students at Prairie State College received on average $6,684 in grant and scholarships from the college, the state and/or the federal government. Below is detail stats of the aid provided to full-time, freshman students.

$6,684
Students Receiving Aid Average Amount Total Amount
Pell Grant 86 44% $5,683 $488,742
Other Federal Grant 96 49% $5,979 $574,023
State Grant/Scholarships 72 37% $1,482 $106,690
Institutional Grant/Scholarships 27 14% $3,751 $101,274
Total Grant & Scholarships 117 60% $6,684 $781,987

Graduation Rate

The following chart shows the graduation rate of Prairie State College students who enrolled in 2018 and after. The stat covers all undergraduates registered as full-time students to study a 4-year bachelor's degree program for the first time.

The breakdown shows the graduation rate by race/ethnicity of US students. All international students are represented under one group.

As of August 31, 2021, the average graduation rate of Prairie State College students is 16.9%. Female students graduated at a rate of 17.7%, whereas male students graduated at a rate of 16.1%.

16.9%

  • African American 12.5% 21 students
  • white 21.1% 8 students
  • hispanic 22.4% 13 students
  • International Students 100.0% 4 students

Athletic Associations

  • NJCAA
    National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA)

Service Offerings

Prairie State College provides the following additional services to its students
  • Remedial services
  • Placement services for graduates
  • Academic/career counseling services
  • Employment services for students

Educational Offerings

Prairie State College offers educational programs in the following categories. Check the programs section to learn more about specific programs that you are interested in.
  • Academic
  • Occupational
  • Postbaccalaureate Recreational or avocational education
  • Adult basic remedial or high school equivalent

Special Learning Opportunities

  • Weekend/evening classes
  • Study abroad

Veteran Services

  • Dedicated point of contact for support services for veterans, military service-members, and their families
  • Recognized student veteran organization
  • Credit for military training
  • Yellow Ribbon Program (officially known as Post-9/11 GI Bill, Yellow Ribbon Program)