At $7,309/yr net price, Rend Lake College graduates earn $35,775/yr within 10 years of enrollment, which is $1,775/yr above the median for high school graduates.
Cost vs. Outcomes
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Average Net Price (per year) | $7,309 |
| Estimated 4-Year Cost | $29,236 |
| Median Earnings (10yr post-entry) | $35,775/yr |
| Earnings Premium vs. HS Diploma | +$1,775/yr |
| Estimated Break-Even | 16.5 years |
| Graduation Rate (6-year) | 60.4% |
| Median Debt at Graduation | $5,809 |
What You'll Actually Pay
Average net price by family income
| Family Income | Estimated Net Price |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $6,369/yr |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $6,411/yr |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $9,607/yr |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $12,191/yr |
Earnings by Major
Top programs ranked by median earnings
| Program | Level | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. | Associate | $53,108 | |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions. | Associate | $41,937 | |
| Culinary Arts and Related Services. | Associate | $20,140 | |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services. | Certificate | $20,140 | |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies. | Certificate | $16,663 | |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities. | Associate | $13,702 |
The Risk Factor
60.4% of students at Rend Lake College graduate within 6 years. A significant share of students finish, but roughly 40% do not complete their degree.
Analysis
Rend Lake College gives you a low-risk, low-cost path with one program that clearly pays and several that don't. You leave with about $5,809 in median debt, which you could clear in a single year on most starting salaries here. The 60% graduation rate is solid for a two-year public school, so your odds of actually finishing are real. But the median earnings ten years out sit below what a full-time worker earns at many entry-level jobs, which tells you the credential you pick matters more than the school itself.
Nursing is the reason to come here. The associate nursing program more than doubles the college's median earnings and outpaces the allied health track by over $11,000 a year. Allied health is the clear second choice. After those two, the numbers fall off a cliff. Culinary arts, the health and medical administrative certificate, and vehicle maintenance all land in the $16,000 to $20,000 range. Those are certificate and associate credentials that leave you earning near minimum-wage territory, so treat them as skill add-ons, not careers you can support a family on.
The pricing has a strange kink. If your family earns under $48k, you pay around $6,400. But the $48-75k bracket jumps to $9,607, and the $75-110k bracket hits $12,191. Middle-income families pay almost double what lower-income families do, so run your own aid estimate before committing.
This school is a good fit for you if you're targeting nursing or allied health and want to keep debt near zero. If you're drawn to culinary, automotive, or medical administration, go in clear-eyed: the paycheck those programs produce is low, and you should weigh whether the certificate is worth even Rend Lake's modest cost.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Rend Lake College worth the money?
Rend Lake College offers decent value with a low net price of $7,309 per year and manageable debt of $5,809. However, the median earnings of $35,775 ten years after graduation are below average, making ROI heavily dependent on your program choice.
What are the best paying programs at Rend Lake College?
Nursing programs at Rend Lake College provide the strongest ROI, with graduates earning around $53,108 annually. Allied health programs also pay well at $41,937, while culinary arts and automotive programs lead to lower earnings around $16,000-$20,000.
How much debt will I have after Rend Lake College?
Rend Lake College graduates typically leave with just $5,809 in debt, which is significantly lower than most colleges. This low debt load helps offset the modest earnings potential for many programs.
Does Rend Lake College have good job placement rates?
Rend Lake College has a 60% graduation rate, which is reasonable for a community college. The school's value depends heavily on choosing high-demand programs like nursing rather than lower-paying fields like automotive repair.