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Prairie State College

#1664 in US ranking Chicago Heights, IL
Type:
Public
Programs:
2 to 4 years

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Cost

Cost / year
$14,149
Tuition & fees
$9,342
Avg. aid
$7,849
Receiving aid
71%

Outcomes

Graduation rate
21%
Median salary
$48,135
1 yr after graduation

What does Prairie State College offer in terms of athletics?

Prairie State College offers intercollegiate athletics, with sports reported to include baseball, basketball, golf, soccer, softball, track and field, and volleyball. Students interested in competing should confirm which teams are active in the intended academic year and the eligibility rules for their sport.

Varsity participation is different from a club, intramural game, or general fitness activity: teams may have tryouts, schedules, academic requirements, and governing-body rules. Applicants should verify current team affiliations and any recruiting or aid arrangements directly with PSC athletics rather than assume that every listed sport offers the same opportunities.

What student groups and Associations are available at Prairie State College?

Prairie State College provides ways to participate in campus activities beyond class, including student-led media and performing arts. Reported opportunities include a student-run newspaper, a theater group, and choral groups.

Students seeking an academic, cultural, service, or interest-based organization should consult the current student-activities roster: a club's recognition or activity can change between semesters. The most useful questions are whether a group is meeting now, when it meets, and whether its activities fit around the student's class and work schedule.

Who studies at Prairie State College?

Prairie State College enrolls a predominantly local undergraduate student body. Reported enrollment is 2,953 students, and 92% of students are Illinois residents. The college also serves students entering at different stages: reported figures include first-time degree- or certificate-seeking students and students transferring in from other institutions.

The age distribution extends well beyond recent high school graduates. Students in their late teens and early twenties form a substantial group, while adults in their thirties, forties, and older are also enrolled. That mix is relevant to scheduling and support needs, although age alone says little about any individual student's goals or experience.

Reported racial and ethnic enrollment includes Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, White, multiracial, and other students. These categories describe enrollment; they should not be used to infer a student's background or to make unsupported claims about campus culture.

How does student life look like at Prairie State College?

Student life at Prairie State College is shaped largely by its role as a commuter community college. Classes, campus activities, arts participation, athletics, and student services offer ways to meet peers, but the daily rhythm differs from that of a residential campus.

Students can also seek academic guidance and personal or psychological counseling through college services. For someone balancing school with work or caregiving, the practical question is whether an activity or support appointment is available at a usable time - not merely whether the service exists. Orientation, advising, and a workable course schedule can be particularly important during the first term.

What libraries are available to students at Prairie State College?

Prairie State College's main library resource is its Learning Resource Center. Students can use library services for coursework and research rather than relying only on materials assigned in class.

For a research project, students should check the library catalog and available academic databases, and ask library staff for help identifying suitable sources. They should also verify current borrowing rules, remote-access instructions, study-space availability, and hours; these details can change by term and matter especially to students studying around jobs or commuting schedules.

Prairie State College Student Life for 2027

Total enrollment

2953

Full Time Degree Seeking Freshmen

245

Total staff

73 full time, 149 part time

Veterans affair office

No

Prairie State College Student Body

Undergraduate vs. graduate students

Undergraduate: 2,953

Full-time vs. part-time students

Full-time: 924
Part-time: 2,029

Full-time degree-seeking students by gender

Women: 136
Men: 109

Students by race/ethnicity

Hispanic or Latino: 575
Black or African American: 1,284
White: 300
American Indian or Alaska Native: 9
Asian: 21
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander: 7
Two or more races: 115
Unknown: 91

Freshly enrolled students' age

Under 25 years
Over 25 years

Prairie State College Sports & Athletics

Varsity teams compete against other colleges, intramural teams within the school. Each column says whether men, women or both take part, and whether the sport offers athletic scholarships (Aid).

Sport

Varsity Intramural Aid

Baseball

Men––

Basketball

Both––

Golf

Men––

Soccer

Men––

Softball

Women––

Track and field

Both––

Volleyball

Women––

Data last updated on November 5, 2026

Data sources: IPEDS 2024-25, Peterson 2026, College Scorecard 10/2026, Clery 2024 (2023-24), OpenAlex 2026

Figures on this profile come from federal and third-party datasets in the editions listed above and are refreshed periodically, so they may differ from what the institution currently reports. Confirm costs, deadlines and requirements with the school before making decisions.

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