William Rainey Harper College Tuition & Outcomes (2026)
William Rainey Harper College is a public certificate and vocational school in Palatine, Illinois, serving roughly 9,313 students. Programs focus on certificates and workforce credentials that prepare students for skilled trades and technical careers. Typical net price after grant aid is about $11,607 for students who receive it, compared with published tuition near $3,894. Median earnings about ten years after entry reach about $48,071 among students who received federal aid.
Key Facts
- 2024 Undergraduate Tuition: $3,894
- 2024 Average Net Price: $11,607 After Financial Aid
- 2024 Acceptance Rate: N/A Moderate Selectivity
- 2024 Enrolled Students: 9,313 42.1% Full-Time
- 2024 Graduation Rate: 47.62%
- Carnegie Classification: Associate's Colleges: High Transfer-High Nontraditional
- First-Generation Students: 47.2%
- Tuition trend: In-state tuition increase of 1.3% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
- Net price trend: Average net price decrease of 1.2% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
- Full-Time Faculty: 35.5%
- Undergraduate Enrollment: 23,591
- Room & Board: $14,251 annual estimate
William Rainey Harper College: what the data shows
Common questions about William Rainey Harper College, answered from College Scorecard and IPEDS in this repository.
Where is William Rainey Harper College?
William Rainey Harper College is located in Palatine, IL (ZIP 60067-7398).
NCES locale classification: Rural fringe.
Is William Rainey Harper College public or private?
William Rainey Harper College is a Public institution.
How much does William Rainey Harper College cost?
Published tuition: $3,894 in-state, $11,874 out-of-state.
Average net price after aid: $11,607.
| Family income band | Avg. net price |
|---|---|
| Family income $0–$30,000 | $9,446 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $10,501 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $13,426 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $16,866 |
| $110,001+ | $18,676 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $15,576.
How big is William Rainey Harper College?
Total enrollment: 9,313 students.
Undergraduate enrollment: 23,591 students.
About 42% enroll full-time in our extract.
What is the graduation rate at William Rainey Harper College?
150%-time completion rate: 47.62%.
First-year retention: 77.3%.
What do graduates of William Rainey Harper College earn?
Median earnings: $40,035 six years after entry; $48,071 ten years after entry (College Scorecard).
How much debt do students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers: $10,184.
19.70% of students receive Pell grants.
What is William Rainey Harper College known for?
Largest IPEDS program completions at this institution:
- Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies (1,823 completions)
- Nursing Assistant/Aide and Patient Care Assistant/Aide (535 completions)
- Biological and Physical Sciences (401 completions)
- General Studies (139 completions)
- Welding Technology/Welder (93 completions)
- Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse (80 completions)
- 05.1081 (75 completions)
- Accounting Technology/Technician and Bookkeeping (71 completions)
- Child Care Provider/Assistant (68 completions)
- Business Administration and Management, General (65 completions)
See ROI & Programs for more.
Is William Rainey Harper College a good school?
We do not score schools on opinion. Federal data in our extract show completion rate 47.62%; median earnings $48,071 at 10 years; net price $11,607. Compare these figures to your cost, aid, and career goals.
Tuition & Cost
Tuition Costs
$3,894
2024 Undergraduate Tuition
In 2024, the cost of tuition at William Rainey Harper College was $3,894.
Tuition comparison with similar institutions.
Average Net Price
$11,607
2024 Value
In 2024 William Rainey Harper College had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $11,607.
Average net price comparison with similar institutions.
Total Cost of Attendance
$46,428 Estimated 4-Year Total Cost
$11,607 Average Annual Net Price (after aid)
$15,576 4-Year In-State Tuition
$47,496 4-Year Out-of-State Tuition
$14,251 Room & Board (annual, on-campus estimate)
$1,100 Books & Supplies (annual estimate)
$19,245 Estimated Annual Sticker (tuition + room/board + books)
$76,980 Estimated 4-Year Sticker (before aid)
4-year total cost breakdown for William Rainey Harper College.
Financial Aid by Income Level
19.70% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants
2.01% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
0.00%
3-year cohort default rate (College Scorecard)
The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at William Rainey Harper College was 0.00%.
Cohort default rates account for borrowers who default in the first three years.
Tuition tracker
Published tuition and average net price by reporting year come from the College Scorecard institution file. Values are not adjusted for inflation; missing cells mean the field was not reported or was suppressed for William Rainey Harper College in that year.
Reporting years in the table below: 2013–2023 (Scorecard labels refer to the institutional submission cycle).
| Year | In-state tuition & fees | Out-of-state tuition & fees | Average net price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | $3,054 | $11,034 | $8,500 |
| 2014 | $3,096 | $11,076 | $8,290 |
| 2015 | $3,228 | $11,208 | $8,023 |
| 2016 | $3,360 | $11,340 | $7,453 |
| 2017 | $3,498 | $11,478 | $7,120 |
| 2018 | $3,684 | $11,664 | $7,382 |
| 2019 | $3,774 | $11,754 | $7,532 |
| 2020 | $3,774 | $11,754 | $7,184 |
| 2021 | $3,702 | $11,682 | $6,856 |
| 2022 | $3,774 | $11,754 | $6,260 |
| 2023 | $3,822 | $11,802 | $6,186 |
Sticker tuition and net price over time
Where the institution reported separate in-state and out-of-state tuition, both appear. Gaps mean the value was not reported for that year.
College Scorecard reporting-year fields (not inflation-adjusted).
Net price by family income
Brackets follow Scorecard definitions for the series shown (public vs private institution).
Latest income-band net prices available in the processed extract.
Acceptance Rate & Admissions
Acceptance Rate
Acceptance rate data is not available for this institution.
Acceptance rate compared to national average.
Test Scores
Test score data is not available for this institution.
Average SAT and ACT scores for admitted students.
Academic Requirements
GPA requirements are not published by this institution. Contact the admissions office for specific academic requirements.
Estimated GPA and test score ranges.
Enrollment & Student Demographics
William Rainey Harper College reported total enrollment of about 9,313 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 44% male and 56% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes White (41.6%), Hispanic or Latino (33.4%), and Asian (12.7%). About 19.70% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Roughly 47.2% of students are first-generation college students.
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
42.1% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at William Rainey Harper College in 2024 is 9,313 students.
Undergraduate enrollment is about 23,591 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
77.3%
2024 Retention Rate
Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall.
Retention rate over time compared to similar institutions.
Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity
The largest enrollment share in our College Scorecard extract is White at 41.6%.
Shares are for total enrollment (undergraduate and graduate combined when reported).
College Scorecard student demographics.
Graduates & Outcomes
Time to Complete
29.28% 100% Completion Time
47.62% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 29.28% of students graduating from William Rainey Harper College completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
Completions by Sex (Top Programs)
- Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies: 46% male / 54% female
- Nursing Assistant/Aide and Patient Care Assistant/Aide: 16% male / 84% female
- Biological and Physical Sciences: 53% male / 47% female
IPEDS completions by sex for the five largest programs (aggregate CIPs excluded).
Completions by Race & Ethnicity
Combined IPEDS award counts across reported programs; largest group: White.
Summed across program completion records in our extract.
ROI & Programs
Financial value and program information for William Rainey Harper College.
Return on Investment
$10,184 Median Student Debt
$48,071 Median Annual Earnings (10 years)
21.19% Debt-to-Earnings Ratio
935.39% Return on Investment
2.1 years Estimated Payback Period
Financial value analysis for William Rainey Harper College.
Top Programs by Completions
10 largest programs by IPEDS completions (of 81 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).
1. Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies: 1,823 completions
2. Nursing Assistant/Aide and Patient Care Assistant/Aide: 535 completions
3. Biological and Physical Sciences: 401 completions
4. General Studies: 139 completions
5. Welding Technology/Welder: 93 completions
6. Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse: 80 completions
7. 05.1081: 75 completions
8. Accounting Technology/Technician and Bookkeeping: 71 completions
9. Child Care Provider/Assistant: 68 completions
Most popular programs at William Rainey Harper College.
Employment Outcomes
Employment outcome data is not available for this institution.
Earnings outcomes for William Rainey Harper College graduates.
Operations
Instructional staffing and expenditure indicators for William Rainey Harper College from College Scorecard (not a full IPEDS finance statement).
Instructional Resources
- Full-time faculty share: 35.5%
- Average faculty salary (Scorecard): $11,424
- Instructional expenditure per FTE: $7,774
Endowment and detailed non-instructional staff counts require IPEDS Finance/HR surveys and are not in this extract.
Scorecard instructional metrics where reported.
About
William Rainey Harper College is a public institution located in Palatine, IL, classified as Associate's Colleges: High Transfer-High Nontraditional. In the latest IPEDS completions in our extract, the largest programs by awards were Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies, Nursing Assistant/Aide and Patient Care Assistant/Aide, Biological and Physical Sciences. Enrollment is approximately 9,313 students. Student body composition includes White (41.6%), Hispanic or Latino (33.4%), Asian (12.7%). The 150%-time completion rate is 47.62%. Approximately 19.70% of students receive Pell Grants. About 47.2% of students are first-generation college students.
Institution Type
Public
Carnegie Classification: Associate's Colleges: High Transfer-High Nontraditional
Location
Palatine, IL 60067-7398
Region: Great Lakes
Insights and Analysis
Diverse Program Offerings: With over 81 distinct degree programs, William Rainey Harper College provides students with a wide range of academic options. This diversity allows students to explore various fields and find programs that align with their interests and career goals.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is William Rainey Harper College located?
William Rainey Harper College is located in Palatine, IL.
How much does William Rainey Harper College cost?
Reported tuition is $3,894 and average net price is $11,607 in the latest College Scorecard data. On-campus room and board is estimated at $14,251 annually.
What is the student body demographics at William Rainey Harper College?
William Rainey Harper College reports undergraduate enrollment of about 23,591 students, White (41.6%), Hispanic or Latino (33.4%) in federal College Scorecard data.
How many first-generation students attend William Rainey Harper College?
About 47.2% of students at William Rainey Harper College are first-generation college students.
What do graduates of William Rainey Harper College earn?
Median earnings are $40,035 six years after entry and $48,071 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at William Rainey Harper College?
The 150%-time completion rate is 47.6% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
How much debt do William Rainey Harper College students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers is $10,184.
Is William Rainey Harper College public or private?
William Rainey Harper College is a public institution located in Palatine, IL.
Is William Rainey Harper College an HBCU?
No. William Rainey Harper College is not flagged as an HBCU in the IPEDS institutional directory.
Is William Rainey Harper College a tribal college?
No. William Rainey Harper College is not flagged as a tribal college in IPEDS.
Is William Rainey Harper College a Hispanic-serving institution (HSI)?
By the common federal eligibility proxy used here (≥25% Hispanic enrollment in College Scorecard), yes—William Rainey Harper College reports 33.4% Hispanic enrollment share.
Is William Rainey Harper College religiously affiliated?
No religious affiliation is reported for William Rainey Harper College in IPEDS institutional characteristics.
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
- Related geography & profiles
- Illinois college costs
- Illinois colleges by ROI
- Illinois trade schools profile
- Great Lakes regional profile
- All state profiles
- Regional profiles
- National benchmarks
- School directory
- All schools in Illinois
Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.
Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.
Methodology
Data for this profile is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard dataset, which provides comprehensive information on institutions of higher education in the United States.
All financial figures are adjusted for inflation and represent the most recent available data. Graduation rates and completion times are calculated according to federal standards.