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Prairie State College
Chicago Heights, Illinois · Public community college · Training programs available:
Address: 202 South Halsted Street, Chicago Heights, IL 60411 · Phone: (708) 709-3500 · School website ↗ · Verify on College Scorecard ↗
Sanction on record, not yet lifted — Nov 2025 · Probation · American Physical Therapy Association. 2 sanction actions in the window.
Prairie State College is a public trade school in Chicago Heights, Illinois, offering CNA classes, EMT & paramedic training, and auto mechanic programs, accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Prairie State College has a 21.0% completion rate, below the state average of 58.4%, with median graduate debt of $11,000 and median earnings of $36,696 ten years after entry, per the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Annual cost of attendance is not reported in federal data for Prairie State College; the school participates in federal financial aid (Title IV), and about 33.0% of students receive Pell Grants.
What these trades pay once you're working
| Occupation | Starting (10th pct) | Median | Experienced (75th) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nursing assistants | $37,590 | $45,960 | $48,380 |
| Emergency medical technicians | $36,420 | $42,260 | $49,640 |
| Automotive service technicians and mechanics | $34,190 | $49,170 | $73,640 |
| Dental hygienists | $74,280 | $96,670 | $101,800 |
| HVAC and refrigeration mechanics and installers | $46,690 | $77,410 | $96,030 |
| Electricians | $49,240 | $99,560 | $117,460 |
| Welders, cutters, solderers and brazers | $38,890 | $51,320 | $61,520 |
| Surgical technologists | $48,560 | $64,650 | $77,670 |
| Dental assistants | $37,360 | $48,610 | $56,860 |
| Medical assistants | $36,400 | $46,090 | $49,460 |
| Machinists | $38,390 | $58,520 | $65,620 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants | Certificate, under 300 hours | 117 | not reported | not reported | $8,750 |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | Certificate, under 300 hours | 57 | $37,124 | not reported | not reported |
| Dental Support Services and Allied Professions | Associate degree | 35 | $48,414 | $53,697 | not reported |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 26 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 17 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician (HAC, HACR, HVAC, HVACR) | Certificate, 1–2 years | 16 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 15 | not reported | not reported | $8,750 |
| Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services | Certificate, under 300 hours | 14 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians | Certificate, under 300 hours | 12 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Electrical and Power Transmission Installers | Certificate, 1–2 years | 11 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | Associate degree | 7 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Precision Metal Working | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 7 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Dental Support Services and Allied Professions | Certificate, 1–2 years | 3 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Electrical and Power Transmission Installers | Associate degree | 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 |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians | Certificate, 1–2 years | 2 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Precision Metal Working | Certificate, 1–2 years | 1 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Precision Metal Working | Certificate, 1–2 years | 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
Prairie State College is a public trade and career training campus in Chicago Heights, Illinois, located in a large suburb setting. The school participates in federal financial aid (Title IV), and it holds accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission along with program-specific accreditors including the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing, the American Dental Association's Commission on Dental Accreditation, and the American Physical Therapy Association's Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education. Across 19 program families, the campus awards the most completions in CNA classes (132), EMT & paramedic training (88), and auto mechanic schools (43).
Federal data shows a completion rate of 21.0 percent, which is below the state average of 58.4 percent for comparable programs. Graduates carry a median debt of $11,000, and median earnings ten years after entry are reported at $36,696. About 33.0 percent of students receive Pell Grants. Annual cost of attendance is not reported for this campus in federal data.
With 349 trade completers among 2,443 undergraduates, this campus offers a mix of shorter certificate-style programs (like CNA and EMT training) and longer allied-health tracks tied to specialized accreditors, which may suit both first-time students and adult career-changers, though specific program lengths are not detailed in this data. Prospective students should verify current accreditation status and outcomes directly through the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and by contacting the school.
Questions students ask
What trade and career programs does this campus offer?
Prairie State College offers 19 program families, with the most completions in CNA classes (132), EMT & paramedic training (88), and auto mechanic schools (43).
Is this school accredited, and by whom?
Yes, the school is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, along with program-specific accreditors including the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing, the American Dental Association's Commission on Dental Accreditation, and the American Physical Therapy Association's Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education.
Can I use federal financial aid (FAFSA, Pell Grants) at this school?
Yes, this school participates in Title IV federal financial aid programs, and about 33.0 percent of its students receive Pell Grants.
What share of students finish their program here, and how does that compare to the state?
The completion rate is 21.0 percent, which is below the state average of 58.4 percent, according to federal data.
How much debt do graduates of this school typically carry?
Graduates carry a median debt of $11,000, per federal data.
What do graduates of this school earn?
Median earnings ten years after entry are $36,696, per the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
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 at (708) 709-3500 or visit https://prairiestate.edu/ for current tuition.
Is this a public, non-profit, or for-profit school, and why does that matter?
Prairie State College is a public institution, which typically means lower tuition for in-state residents and access to state funding, though specific tuition figures are not reported here.
How long do the programs here take to complete?
Specific program lengths are not reported in this data; contact the school directly to confirm program durations.
How do I verify this school's accreditation and outcomes myself?
You can verify accreditation and outcomes through the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard at https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/school/?148007, or by contacting the school directly.
Is this school a good fit for an adult changing careers?
The mix of shorter certificate programs like CNA and EMT training alongside longer allied-health tracks may suit adult career-changers, but this is based only on program types listed, not confirmed schedules or formats.
How do I contact the school or apply?
You can contact Prairie State College at (708) 709-3500 or visit their website at https://prairiestate.edu/ for application details.
How does this campus compare with other schools offering the same trade nearby?
This data does not include comparisons to other nearby schools; consult the College Scorecard at https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/school/?148007 for comparable institutions.
Nearby trade and career schools in Illinois
- Moraine Valley Community CollegePalos Hills, IL · 40% completion
- Joliet Junior CollegeJoliet, IL · 21% completion
- South Suburban CollegeSouth Holland, IL · 28% completion
- Fox CollegeTinley Park, IL · 71% completion
- Northwestern CollegeOak Lawn, IL · college
- Tricoci University of Beauty Culture-BridgeviewBridgeview, IL · 67% completion
- John Amico School of Hair DesignOak Forest, IL · 84% completion
- Trenz Beauty AcademyCalumet City, IL · 61% 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.