William Rainey Harper College is a public community college located in Palatine, IL. It offers 119 programs for degree/certificate. (Of that, the distance learning opportunity (online degrees/courses) is given to 16 programs).

It is accredited by Higher Learning Commission.

The 2024 tuition & fees of William Rainey Harper College is $9,990 for Illinois residents and $11,802 for out-of-state students. Its tuition & fees is cheaper than that of Illinois public community colleges' average ($12,224).

The school has 12,434 students, which is higher than Illinois community collleges' average (3,293). In addition, 2,714 students have enrolled online exclusively. The students to faculty ratio is 18 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 William Rainey Harper 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 - Harper College
Illinois ResidentsOut-of-State
Tuition & Fees$9,990$11,802
Books & Supplies$1,100
Off-Campus Living Costs$25,140
Average Financial Aid$5,171
Cost of Attendance$36,230$38,042
After Financial Aid$31,059$32,871
Harper College Tuition Comparison to National and State Average
Illinois ResidentsOut-of-State Students
William Rainey Harper College$9,990$11,802
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

William Rainey Harper 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 Programs124NOT OFFERED
Total Programs7841NOT 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. It includes completers through on-campus classes, partially online classes, and only online classes.

CertificateAssociateBachelor
Agribusiness/Agricultural Business OperationsNOT OFFERED NOT OFFERED NOT OFFERED
CertificateAssociateBachelor
Computer Programming/ProgrammerNOT OFFERED 1 completers
NOT OFFERED
Information Science/StudiesNOT OFFERED NOT OFFERED
Web Page, Digital/Multimedia and Information Resources DesignNOT OFFERED 3 completers
NOT OFFERED
Computer Systems Networking and TelecommunicationsNOT OFFERED NOT OFFERED NOT OFFERED
System, Networking, and LAN/WAN Management/ManagerNOT OFFERED 15 completers
NOT OFFERED
Computer Support SpecialistNOT OFFERED NOT OFFERED NOT OFFERED
CertificateAssociateBachelor
Baking and Pastry Arts/Baker/Pastry ChefNOT OFFERED NOT OFFERED NOT OFFERED
Culinary Arts/Chef Training2 completers
NOT OFFERED NOT OFFERED
Food Service, Waiter/Waitress, and Dining Room Management/ManagerNOT OFFERED NOT OFFERED NOT OFFERED
CertificateAssociateBachelor
Teaching English as a Second or Foreign Language/ESL Language InstructorNOT OFFERED NOT OFFERED NOT OFFERED
Teacher Assistant/Aide1 completers
NOT OFFERED
CertificateAssociateBachelor
EngineeringNOT OFFERED 44 completers
NOT OFFERED
CertificateAssociateBachelor
Electrical, Electronic and Communications Engineering Technology/TechnicianNOT OFFERED 4 completers
NOT OFFERED
Manufacturing Engineering Technology/TechnicianNOT OFFERED 14 completers
NOT OFFERED
Computer Technology/Computer Systems TechnologyNOT OFFERED NOT OFFERED NOT OFFERED
Architectural Drafting and Architectural CAD/CADDNOT OFFERED NOT OFFERED NOT OFFERED
CertificateAssociateBachelor
Child Care Provider/Assistant12 completers
8 completers
NOT OFFERED
Apparel and Textile ManufactureNOT OFFERED NOT OFFERED NOT OFFERED
Fashion and Fabric Consultant6 completers
3 completers
NOT OFFERED
CertificateAssociateBachelor
Legal Assistant/ParalegalNOT OFFERED 8 completers
NOT OFFERED
CertificateAssociateBachelor
Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies918 completers
946 completers
NOT OFFERED
General StudiesNOT OFFERED 147 completers
NOT OFFERED
CertificateAssociateBachelor
Biological and Physical SciencesNOT OFFERED 440 completers
NOT OFFERED
CertificateAssociateBachelor
Criminal Justice/Police ScienceNOT OFFERED 17 completers
NOT OFFERED
Security and Loss Prevention ServicesNOT OFFERED NOT OFFERED NOT OFFERED
Fire Science/Fire-fightingNOT OFFERED 15 completers
NOT OFFERED
Homeland Security1 completers
2 completers
NOT OFFERED
Forensic Science and TechnologyNOT OFFERED 7 completers
NOT OFFERED
CertificateAssociateBachelor
Geographic Information Science and CartographyNOT OFFERED NOT OFFERED NOT OFFERED
CertificateAssociateBachelor
Building/Property Maintenance1 completers
4 completers
NOT OFFERED
CertificateAssociateBachelor
Welding Technology/Welder24 completers
12 completers
NOT OFFERED
Computer Numerically Controlled (CNC) Machinist Technology/CNC MachinistNOT OFFERED NOT OFFERED NOT OFFERED
CertificateAssociateBachelor
Remote Aircraft PilotNOT OFFERED NOT OFFERED NOT OFFERED
Air Transportation (other)NOT OFFERED NOT OFFERED NOT OFFERED
CertificateAssociateBachelor
Commercial PhotographyNOT OFFERED NOT OFFERED NOT OFFERED
Interior Design16 completers
3 completers
NOT OFFERED
Graphic DesignNOT OFFERED 12 completers
NOT OFFERED
Fine/Studio ArtsNOT OFFERED 1 completers
NOT OFFERED
MusicNOT OFFERED 12 completers
NOT OFFERED
CertificateAssociateBachelor
Dental Hygiene/HygienistNOT OFFERED 24 completers
NOT OFFERED
Health Information/Medical Records Administration/AdministratorNOT OFFERED 17 completers
NOT OFFERED
Medical Insurance Coding Specialist/Coder NOT OFFERED NOT OFFERED
Medical Administrative/Executive Assistant and Medical SecretaryNOT OFFERED 9 completers
NOT OFFERED
Medical/Clinical Assistant27 completers
NOT OFFERED NOT OFFERED
Physical Therapy Technician/AssistantNOT OFFERED 10 completers
NOT OFFERED
Emergency Care Attendant (EMT Ambulance)NOT OFFERED NOT OFFERED NOT OFFERED
Cardiovascular Technology/TechnologistNOT OFFERED 12 completers
NOT OFFERED
Emergency Medical Technology/Technician (EMT Paramedic)5 completers
NOT OFFERED
Medical Radiologic Technology/Science - Radiation TherapistNOT OFFERED NOT OFFERED NOT OFFERED
Surgical Technology/TechnologistNOT OFFERED 16 completers
NOT OFFERED
Diagnostic Medical Sonography/Sonographer and Ultrasound TechnicianNOT OFFERED 10 completers
NOT OFFERED
Radiologic Technology/Science - RadiographerNOT OFFERED 17 completers
NOT OFFERED
Athletic Training/TrainerNOT OFFERED NOT OFFERED NOT OFFERED
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) Technology/TechnicianNOT OFFERED NOT OFFERED NOT OFFERED
Phlebotomy Technician/PhlebotomistNOT OFFERED NOT OFFERED NOT OFFERED
Sterile Processing Technology/TechnicianNOT OFFERED NOT OFFERED NOT OFFERED
Community Health and Preventive MedicineNOT OFFERED NOT OFFERED NOT OFFERED
Dietetics/DietitianNOT OFFERED NOT OFFERED NOT OFFERED
Massage Therapy/Therapeutic Massage10 completers
NOT OFFERED NOT OFFERED
Registered Nursing/Registered NurseNOT OFFERED 82 completers
NOT OFFERED
Licensed Practical/Vocational Nurse Training23 completers
NOT OFFERED NOT OFFERED
Nursing Assistant/Aide and Patient Care Assistant/AideNOT OFFERED NOT OFFERED NOT OFFERED
CertificateAssociateBachelor
Business Administration and ManagementNOT OFFERED 47 completers
NOT OFFERED
Purchasing, Procurement/Acquisitions and Contracts ManagementNOT OFFERED NOT OFFERED NOT OFFERED
Accounting NOT OFFERED NOT OFFERED
Accounting Technology/Technician and BookkeepingNOT OFFERED 17 completers
NOT OFFERED
Administrative Assistant and Secretarial ScienceNOT OFFERED NOT OFFERED NOT OFFERED
General Office Occupations and Clerical ServicesNOT OFFERED NOT OFFERED NOT OFFERED
Parts, Warehousing, and Inventory Management OperationsNOT OFFERED 14 completers
NOT OFFERED
Small Business Administration/ManagementNOT OFFERED NOT OFFERED NOT OFFERED
Banking and Financial Support ServicesNOT OFFERED NOT OFFERED NOT OFFERED
Hospitality Administration/ManagementNOT OFFERED NOT OFFERED
Hotel/Motel Administration/ManagementNOT OFFERED NOT OFFERED NOT OFFERED
Human Resources Management/Personnel AdministrationNOT OFFERED NOT OFFERED NOT OFFERED
InsuranceNOT OFFERED NOT OFFERED NOT OFFERED
Retailing and Retail OperationsNOT OFFERED NOT OFFERED NOT OFFERED
Selling Skills and Sales OperationsNOT OFFERED NOT OFFERED NOT OFFERED
Fashion MerchandisingNOT OFFERED 2 completers
NOT OFFERED

Student Population

There are 12,434 students at William Rainey Harper College including both full-time and part-time students. By gender, 5,313 male students and 6,702 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
Total12,0154,0108,005
Male Students5,3132,0553,258
Female Students6,7021,9554,747

Distance Learning (Online Degree/Program) Enrollment

Of the 12,434 total students, 6,216 students enrolled through distance learning (2,714 students enrolled exclusively and 3,502 enrolled in some online courses).

Distance Learning Enrollment Distribution
Total Enrollment12,434
Enrolled Exclusively in Online Courses2,714
Enrolled in Some But Not All Online Courses3,502
Not Enrolled In Any Online Courses6,218

School Profile and Academic Overview

The following table shows directory information and summarizes important academic and admission characteristics for William Rainey Harper College.

Directory Information and Key Academic Statistics
Type2-4 year, public
Address1200 W Algonquin Rd, Palatine, IL
Phone847-925-6000
Tuition & Fees (2023-2024) »In-State$9,990
Out-of-State$11,802
Student Population »12,434 Total Enrollment
Graduation Rate »43%
Transfer-out Rate17%
Retention Rate73% (Full-time)
57% (Part-time)
Average Financial Aid »$5,171
Students to Faculty18:1 (5.56%)