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Is William Rainey Harper College worth it?
A first pass affordability and outcome read for William Rainey Harper, using national average inputs. Run your own numbers for a personalized score.
Worth-It Score
Stretch
William Rainey Harper sits in the stretch band for a typical family. The long-run earnings picture at $48,071 helps, but median debt of $10,184 plus yearly net price of $11,607 creates a tighter path. For context, William Rainey Harper's net price is about 13% 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
$6,608
/yrAverage school like this
$7,555
/yrThis helps your Worth-It Score
You'd pay about $947 less per year than the typical student at a similar school. Over 4 years that's roughly $4,000 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
$11,607
Median earnings 10 years out
$48,071
Median debt at graduation
$10,184
Graduation rate
47%
At William Rainey Harper, a typical graduate carries about $10,184 in student debt and earns roughly $48,071 ten years after enrolling. On a standard 10-year repayment plan, that works out to about $116 per month, or 3% of pre-tax income. That sits inside a borrower comfort range for many graduates.
What this means for your family
William Rainey Harper is a two year school in Palatine, 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
Oehrlein School of Cosmetology
East Peoria, IL
Worth-It Score: 76/100
Median net price: $11,671
2-year
Waubonsee Community
Sugar Grove, IL
Worth-It Score: 60/100
Median net price: $11,442
2-year
Gem City
Quincy, IL
Worth-It Score: 77/100
Median net price: $11,843
2-year
Heartland Community
Normal, IL
Worth-It Score: 66/100
Median net price: $12,013
2-year
Educators of Beauty College of Cosmetology-Sterling
Sterling, IL
Worth-It Score: 68/100
Median net price: $12,391
Common questions about William Rainey Harper
The median net price at William Rainey Harper is $11,607 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 →