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Is Prairie State College worth it?
A first pass affordability and outcome read for Prairie State, using national average inputs. Run your own numbers for a personalized score.
Worth-It Score
Stretch
Prairie State sits in the stretch band for a typical family. The long-run earnings picture at $36,696 helps, but median debt of $11,000 plus yearly net price of $4,738 creates a tighter path. For context, Prairie State's net price is about 26% below the typical 2-year, public school. It can work, but the financing plan has to be deliberate.
Is the price fair?
Compared to 791 similar 2-year, public schools
This school
$5,564
/yrAverage school like this
$7,555
/yrThis helps your Worth-It Score
You'd pay about $1,991 less per year than the typical student at a similar school. Over 4 years that's roughly $8,000 in savings.
Score breakdown
The public version of the score weighs affordability, after graduation outcomes, and repayment burden.
Affordability
40% weight
The yearly net price sits in a range that leaves more room for family cash flow and lower borrowing.
Outcome
40% weight
The outcome data does not create enough margin to fully offset the cost.
Repayment
20% weight
Median debt stays in a more comfortable repayment range for a typical graduate.
The numbers behind the score
Median net price per year
$4,738
Median earnings 10 years out
$36,696
Median debt at graduation
$11,000
Graduation rate
20%
At Prairie State, a typical graduate carries about $11,000 in student debt and earns roughly $36,696 ten years after enrolling. On a standard 10-year repayment plan, that works out to about $125 per month, or 4% of pre-tax income. That sits inside a borrower comfort range for many graduates.
What this means for your family
Prairie State is a two year school in Chicago Heights, IL. For many families, the real question is not just sticker price but what this path unlocks next, whether that is direct employment, transfer, or a lower cost route into a four year degree.
Similar schools worth comparing
These schools share a similar sector, geography, or price range.
2-year
Danville Area Community
Danville, IL
Worth-It Score: 61/100
Median net price: $4,777
2-year
Kankakee Community
Kankakee, IL
Worth-It Score: 60/100
Median net price: $4,665
2-year
Kishwaukee
Malta, IL
Worth-It Score: 61/100
Median net price: $4,574
2-year
Oakton
Des Plaines, IL
Worth-It Score: 60/100
Median net price: $5,183
2-year
Morton
Cicero, IL
Worth-It Score: 60/100
Median net price: $5,191
Common questions about Prairie State
The median net price at Prairie State is $4,738 per year. That is the average yearly price after typical grant aid for students in the public federal data, not the published sticker price.
Get your personalized Worth-It score
National averages are a starting point. Plug in your actual aid offer, intended major, and family situation to get a score that reflects your specific picture.
Looking at community colleges options in Illinois? See the most affordable community colleges in Illinois →
The Worth-It Score weighs affordability (40%), after graduation outcomes (40%), and repayment burden (20%). Underlying data points come from publicly available federal higher education reporting. See full methodology →