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Is Rend Lake College worth it?
A first pass affordability and outcome read for Rend Lake, using national average inputs. Run your own numbers for a personalized score.
Worth-It Score
Workable
Rend Lake lands in the workable band for a typical family. Median debt of $5,809 can be carried by median long-run earnings of $35,775, but the margin is not huge. For context, Rend Lake's net price is about 13% above the typical 2-year, public school. This is the kind of school where your actual aid offer can move the answer meaningfully.
Is the price fair?
Compared to 791 similar 2-year, public schools
This school
$8,518
/yrAverage school like this
$7,555
/yrNet price is slightly above average
You'd pay about $963 more per year than the typical student at a similar school. Over 4 years that's roughly $4,000 in extra cost.
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
$9,187
Median earnings 10 years out
$35,775
Median debt at graduation
$5,809
Graduation rate
62%
At Rend Lake, a typical graduate carries about $5,809 in student debt and earns roughly $35,775 ten years after enrolling. On a standard 10-year repayment plan, that works out to about $66 per month, or 2% of pre-tax income. That sits inside a borrower comfort range for many graduates.
What this means for your family
Rend Lake is a two year school in Ina, 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
City Colleges of Chicago-Olive-Harvey
Chicago, IL
Worth-It Score: 60/100
Median net price: $9,038
2-year
City Colleges of Chicago-Kennedy-King
Chicago, IL
Worth-It Score: 60/100
Median net price: $9,494
2-year
Estelle Medical Academy
Skokie, IL
Worth-It Score: 84/100
Median net price: $8,628
2-year
Pivot Point Academy
Bloomingdale, IL
Worth-It Score: 82/100
Median net price: $9,920
2-year
Sauk Valley Community
Dixon, IL
Worth-It Score: 65/100
Median net price: $8,493
Common questions about Rend Lake
The median net price at Rend Lake is $9,187 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 →