Career Training Path › Illinois › Highland Community College
Highland Community College
Freeport, Illinois · Public community college · Training programs available:
Address: 2998 W Pearl City Rd, Freeport, IL 61032 · Phone: (815) 235-6121 · School website ↗ · Verify on College Scorecard ↗
No accreditor sanctions in the last 36 months
Highland Community College is a public trade and career school in Freeport, Illinois, offering CDL training, CNA classes, and welding, accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Highland Community College has a 44.9% completion rate, below the Illinois state average of 58.4%, with graduates carrying a median debt of $8,029 and median earnings of $37,928 ten years after entry, per the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Annual cost of attendance is not reported in federal data for Highland Community College; contact the school for current tuition. Federal financial aid, including FAFSA and Pell Grants, can be used here, and about 31.6% of students receive Pell Grants.
What these trades pay once you're working
| Occupation | Starting (10th pct) | Median | Experienced (75th) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers | $39,710 | $60,320 | $75,600 |
| Nursing assistants | $37,590 | $45,960 | $48,380 |
| Welders, cutters, solderers and brazers | $38,890 | $51,320 | $61,520 |
| Automotive service technicians and mechanics | $34,190 | $49,170 | $73,640 |
| Hairdressers, hairstylists and cosmetologists | $31,200 | $34,040 | $41,110 |
| Medical assistants | $36,400 | $46,090 | $49,460 |
| Medical records specialists | $38,890 | $56,440 | $64,360 |
| Manicurists and pedicurists | $31,200 | $37,050 | $46,410 |
| Emergency medical technicians | $36,420 | $42,260 | $49,640 |
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wages for everyone employed in the occupation in Illinois (May 2025; national where the state figure is not published). The program table below shows what this campus's own graduates earned in their first year, whatever job they took.
Trade programs at this campus
| Program | Credential | Grads / yr | Earnings, yr 1 | Earnings, yr 2 | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ground Transportation | Certificate, under 300 hours | 122 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants | Certificate, under 300 hours | 87 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Precision Metal Working | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 27 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services | Certificate, 1–2 years | 8 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 5 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 4 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services | Certificate, 1–2 years | 3 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 3 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians | Certificate, 1–2 years | 3 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians | Associate degree | 3 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services | Associate degree | 2 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | Associate degree | 2 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | Associate degree | 1 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
Earnings are median wages and self-employment income reported to the IRS (W-2 and Schedule SE) for graduates who received federal aid and were working and not enrolled, measured in the calendar year after finishing. They are pay only: health insurance, retirement contributions and other benefits are not included.
Graduates per year from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) 2022-23 Completions survey. Earnings and debt are College Scorecard field-of-study medians for graduates of this program at this campus (reported at the 4-digit program level, so closely related programs share a figure); "not reported" means too few graduates were counted to publish a figure.
About this school
Highland Community College is a public community college in Freeport, Illinois. It is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, with its nursing programs accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing, and it participates in federal Title IV financial aid, meaning students can use FAFSA, loans, and Pell Grants to help pay for enrollment. Across 13 program families, the campus awards the most completions in CDL/truck driving training (122), CNA classes (87), and welding (27), alongside other trade offerings such as auto mechanics, cosmetology, medical assistant, medical billing and coding, nail technician, and EMT training.
Federal data shows a completion rate of 44.9%, which is below the Illinois state average of 58.4%. Graduates carry a median debt of $8,029, and median earnings 10 years after entry are reported at $37,928. Annual cost of attendance is not reported for this campus in federal data. About 31.6% of students receive Pell Grants, suggesting a meaningful share of the roughly 931 undergraduates come from lower-income backgrounds.
This campus, located in a fringe rural setting, may suit students seeking shorter, hands-on trade credentials like CDL, CNA, or welding rather than longer associate-degree pathways, though program length details are not reported here. Career changers should independently confirm program lengths, licensing requirements, and costs by calling the school or reviewing its College Scorecard profile, and should verify accreditation status directly with HLC and ACEN before enrolling.
Questions students ask
What trade and career programs does this campus offer?
Highland Community College offers 13 program families, with the most completions in CDL/truck driving training (122), CNA classes (87), and welding (27). It also offers auto mechanics, cosmetology, medical assistant, medical billing and coding, nail technician, and EMT training.
Is this school accredited, and by whom?
Yes, Highland Community College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, with its nursing programs accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing.
Can I use federal financial aid (FAFSA, Pell Grants) at this school?
Yes, this school participates in Title IV federal financial aid programs, so students can use FAFSA-based aid, loans, and Pell Grants.
What share of students finish their program here, and how does that compare to the state?
The completion rate is 44.9%, which is below the Illinois state average of 58.4%.
How much debt do graduates of this school typically carry?
Graduates carry a median debt of $8,029, per federal data.
What do graduates of this school earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entry are reported at $37,928.
How much does it cost to attend for a year?
Annual cost of attendance is not reported for this campus in federal data; contact the school directly for current tuition figures.
Is this a public, non-profit, or for-profit school, and why does that matter?
Highland Community College is a public institution, which typically means lower tuition and eligibility for state-supported funding compared to for-profit schools.
How long do the programs here take to complete?
Program lengths are not reported in the data provided; contact the school at (815) 235-6121 or visit highland.edu for details.
How do I verify this school's accreditation and outcomes myself?
You can verify accreditation status with the Higher Learning Commission and ACEN, and review federal outcome data on the College Scorecard at https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/school/?145521.
Is this school a good fit for an adult changing careers?
The campus offers shorter trade-focused programs like CDL, CNA, and welding, which may suit career changers, though specific program lengths and schedules are not reported here; confirm directly with the school.
What license or certification will I need after finishing a program here?
Specific licensing or certification requirements are not reported in this data; contact the school or check with your state's licensing board for programs like CNA, welding, or EMT.
How do I contact the school or apply?
You can reach Highland Community College at (815) 235-6121 or through its website, highland.edu.
How does this campus compare with other schools offering the same trade nearby?
Comparative data on nearby schools is not included in this listing; consult the College Scorecard link for side-by-side comparisons.
Nearby trade and career schools in Illinois
- Sauk Valley Community CollegeDixon, IL · 49% completion
- Educators of Beauty College of Cosmetology-SterlingSterling, IL · 59% completion
- Davis Bus Lines LlcNora, IL
- Educators of Beauty College of CosmetologySterling, IL · career school
- Midwest Safe Driver, LLCRochelle, IL
- Rock Valley CollegeBelvidere, IL
- DeVry University-IllinoisLisle, IL · university
- College of Lake CountyGrayslake, IL · 37% completion
See all trade and career schools in Illinois or search by ZIP code.
Data: Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) 2022-23 Completions survey; College Scorecard June 2026; Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs (DAPIP), September 2026. Figures are the U.S. Department of Education's official measures, not Career Training Path's opinion. Tuition, schedules and program availability change — confirm with the school before enrolling.