Prairie State College is a public community college located in Chicago Heights, IL. It offers 73 programs for degree/certificate.

It is accredited by Higher Learning Commission.

The 2024 tuition & fees of Prairie State College is $9,342 for Illinois residents and $11,064 for out-of-state students. Its tuition & fees is cheaper than that of Illinois public community colleges' average ($12,224).

The school has 2,680 students, which is lower than Illinois community collleges' average (3,293). In addition, 517 students have enrolled online exclusively. The students to faculty ratio is 10 to 1, which is lower than the average ratio (17 to 1) of Illinois community colleges.


2024 Tuition & Fees

The following table shows the 2023-2024 tuition & fees, books & supplies, and living costs at Prairie State College. Then, we compare its costs to Illinois community colleges and all U.S. community colleges.

In addition, the chart shows tuition trends over the last 5 years. You can check more comprehensive tuition information on the cost of attendance page.

2024 Cost Of Attendance -
Illinois ResidentsOut-of-State
Tuition & Fees$9,342$11,064
Books & Supplies$2,500
Off-Campus Living Costs$13,720
Average Financial Aid$5,272
Cost of Attendance$25,562$27,284
After Financial Aid$20,290$22,012
Tuition Comparison to National and State Average
Illinois ResidentsOut-of-State Students
Prairie State College$9,342$11,064
Public Community Colleges in Illinois$9,668$12,224
Public Community Colleges in U.S.$4,992$8,639

Offered Degrees/Programs By Area of Study

Prairie State College offers Certificate and Associate's programs. The following table summarizes the number of offered programs by degree types.

Offered Programs and Online Availability
CertificateAssociate'sBachelor's
Online ProgramsNOT OFFEREDNOT OFFEREDNOT OFFERED
Total Programs4825NOT OFFERED

The following tables list each major program along with offered degrees and online availability. The number in each column indicates the number of awarded degrees and/or certificates of the program.

CertificateAssociateBachelor
Information TechnologyNOT OFFERED 7 completers
NOT OFFERED
Computer Programming/ProgrammerNOT OFFERED NOT OFFERED NOT OFFERED
Web Page, Digital/Multimedia and Information Resources DesignNOT OFFERED NOT OFFERED NOT OFFERED
Computer Systems Networking and TelecommunicationsNOT OFFERED NOT OFFERED NOT OFFERED
Network and System Administration/AdministratorNOT OFFERED NOT OFFERED NOT OFFERED
System, Networking, and LAN/WAN Management/ManagerNOT OFFERED NOT OFFERED NOT OFFERED
Web/Multimedia Management and WebmasterNOT OFFERED NOT OFFERED NOT OFFERED
Computer Support SpecialistNOT OFFERED NOT OFFERED NOT OFFERED
CertificateAssociateBachelor
Cooking and Related Culinary ArtsNOT OFFERED NOT OFFERED NOT OFFERED
CertificateAssociateBachelor
Child Care Provider/Assistant1 completers
6 completers
NOT OFFERED
CertificateAssociateBachelor
Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies 157 completers
NOT OFFERED
General StudiesNOT OFFERED 41 completers
NOT OFFERED
CertificateAssociateBachelor
Biological and Physical SciencesNOT OFFERED 18 completers
NOT OFFERED
CertificateAssociateBachelor
Health and Physical Education/FitnessNOT OFFERED NOT OFFERED NOT OFFERED
Kinesiology and Exercise Science 1 completers
NOT OFFERED
CertificateAssociateBachelor
Criminal Justice/Police Science1 completers
NOT OFFERED
Fire Prevention and Safety Technology/TechnicianNOT OFFERED NOT OFFERED NOT OFFERED
Fire Science/Fire-fightingNOT OFFERED 1 completers
NOT OFFERED
CertificateAssociateBachelor
Electrician11 completers
3 completers
NOT OFFERED
CertificateAssociateBachelor
Machine Tool Technology/Machinist1 completers
NOT OFFERED NOT OFFERED
Tool and Die Technology/TechnicianNOT OFFERED NOT OFFERED
Welding Technology/Welder1 completers
NOT OFFERED NOT OFFERED
CertificateAssociateBachelor
Commercial PhotographyNOT OFFERED 3 completers
NOT OFFERED
Graphic DesignNOT OFFERED NOT OFFERED NOT OFFERED
Fine/Studio ArtsNOT OFFERED NOT OFFERED
CertificateAssociateBachelor
Dental Assisting/Assistant3 completers
NOT OFFERED NOT OFFERED
Dental Hygiene/HygienistNOT OFFERED 35 completers
NOT OFFERED
Physical Therapy Technician/AssistantNOT OFFERED 2 completers
NOT OFFERED
Emergency Care Attendant (EMT Ambulance)NOT OFFERED NOT OFFERED NOT OFFERED
Emergency Medical Technology/Technician (EMT Paramedic)NOT OFFERED NOT OFFERED NOT OFFERED
Surgical Technology/TechnologistNOT OFFERED 7 completers
NOT OFFERED
Registered Nursing/Registered NurseNOT OFFERED 30 completers
NOT OFFERED
Nursing Assistant/Aide and Patient Care Assistant/AideNOT OFFERED NOT OFFERED NOT OFFERED
CertificateAssociateBachelor
Business/CommerceNOT OFFERED NOT OFFERED NOT OFFERED
Business Administration and ManagementNOT OFFERED 3 completers
NOT OFFERED
Accounting Technology/Technician and Bookkeeping2 completers
NOT OFFERED NOT OFFERED
Accounting and Business/ManagementNOT OFFERED 3 completers
NOT OFFERED
Entrepreneurship/Entrepreneurial StudiesNOT OFFERED NOT OFFERED NOT OFFERED
TaxationNOT OFFERED NOT OFFERED NOT OFFERED

Student Population

There are 2,680 students at Prairie State College including both full-time and part-time students. By gender, 914 male students and 1,704 female students are attending the school.

The following table shows the total number of students by gender and attending status at the school. You can check more enrollment information of the school.

Student Population
TotalFull-TimePart-time
Total2,6187841,834
Male Students914309605
Female Students1,7044751,229

Distance Learning (Online Degree/Program) Enrollment

Of the 2,680 total students, 1,351 students enrolled through distance learning (517 students enrolled exclusively and 834 enrolled in some online courses).

Distance Learning Enrollment Distribution
Total Enrollment2,680
Enrolled Exclusively in Online Courses517
Enrolled in Some But Not All Online Courses834
Not Enrolled In Any Online Courses1,329

School Profile and Academic Overview

The following table shows directory information and summarizes important academic and admission characteristics for Prairie State College.

Directory Information and Key Academic Statistics
Type2-4 year, public
Address202 South Halsted Street, Chicago Heights, IL
Phone708-709-3500
Tuition & Fees (2023-2024) »In-State$9,342
Out-of-State$11,064
Student Population »2,680 Total Enrollment
Graduation Rate »15%
Transfer-out Rate20%
Retention Rate52% (Full-time)
31% (Part-time)
Average Financial Aid »$5,272
Students to Faculty10:1 (10.00%)