Career Training Path › Illinois › Sauk Valley Community College
Sauk Valley Community College
Dixon, Illinois · Public community college · Training programs available:
Address: 173 Illinois Rt 2, Dixon, IL 61021 · Phone: (815) 288-5511 · School website ↗ · Verify on College Scorecard ↗
No accreditor sanctions in the last 36 months
Sauk Valley Community College is a public trade school in Dixon, Illinois, offering CNA classes, welding, and CDL training, accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Sauk Valley Community College has a 49.1% completion rate, below the Illinois state average of 58.4%; graduates carry a median debt of $8,250 and earn $40,458 ten years after entry, per the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Cost of attendance is not reported in federal data for Sauk Valley Community College; contact the school for current tuition. Federal financial aid, including FAFSA and Pell Grants, can be used here, and about 32.7% 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 |
| Welders, cutters, solderers and brazers | $38,890 | $51,320 | $61,520 |
| Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers | $39,710 | $60,320 | $75,600 |
| Radiologic technologists and technicians | $59,350 | $79,930 | $97,950 |
| Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses | $58,880 | $75,000 | $79,560 |
| HVAC and refrigeration mechanics and installers | $46,690 | $77,410 | $96,030 |
| 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 | 122 | $32,005 | $28,960 | $8,320 |
| Precision Metal Working | Certificate, under 300 hours | 50 | $30,774 | not reported | not reported |
| Ground Transportation | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 36 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | Associate degree | 18 | $45,833 | $40,467 | $8,000 |
| Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants | Certificate, 1–2 years | 15 | $32,005 | $28,960 | $8,320 |
| Precision Metal Working | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 12 | $30,774 | not reported | not reported |
| Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician (HAC, HACR, HVAC, HVACR) | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 8 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Precision Metal Working | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 3 | $30,774 | 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
Sauk Valley Community College is a public trade and career school in Dixon, Illinois. It participates in federal Title IV financial aid, meaning students may use FAFSA and Pell Grants to help pay for enrollment. The campus is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, with additional programmatic accreditation from the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing and the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology. Across its 8 program families, the school's top programs by enrollment are CNA classes (122 completers), welding schools (62 completers), and CDL / truck driving schools (36 completers).
According to federal data, the completion rate at this campus is 49.1%, which is below the state average of 58.4%. Graduates carry a median debt of $8,250, and median earnings 10 years after entry are $40,458. About 32.7% of students receive Pell Grants, indicating a meaningful share of the student body qualifies for need-based aid. Annual cost of attendance is not reported for this campus in federal data.
This campus, located in a fringe rural setting, offers a mix of short career-training programs and healthcare/technical fields that may suit adults changing careers or seeking quicker entry into skilled trades, though exact program lengths are not reported in this data. Prospective students should verify current accreditation status directly with the listed accreditors and review the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard for the most current completion, debt, and earnings figures before enrolling.
Questions students ask
What trade and career programs does this campus offer?
Sauk Valley Community College offers 8 program families, with the top programs being CNA classes, welding schools, and CDL / truck driving schools. It also offers radiology tech, LPN, HVAC, and CNC machining programs.
Is this school accredited, and by whom?
Yes, the school is accredited. Its accreditors include the Higher Learning Commission, the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing, and the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology.
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 and Pell Grants.
What share of students finish their program here, and how does that compare to the state?
The completion rate is 49.1%, 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 $8,250, per federal data.
What do graduates of this school earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entry are $40,458, per federal data.
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 (815) 288-5511 or visit its website for current tuition figures.
Is this a public, non-profit, or for-profit school, and why does that matter?
This is a public school, which typically means lower tuition for state residents and public accountability standards compared to for-profit institutions.
How long do the programs here take to complete?
Program lengths are not reported in this data; contact the school directly to confirm program duration.
How do I verify this school's accreditation and outcomes myself?
You can verify accreditation with the Higher Learning Commission and the other listed accreditors, and review outcomes on the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard at https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/school/?148672.
Is this school a good fit for an adult changing careers?
The campus offers short career-training programs alongside associate-level health and technical fields, which may suit adult learners, though specific program lengths and schedules are not reported in this data.
What license or certification will I need after finishing a program here?
Licensing requirements are not reported in this data; contact the school directly to ask about certification or licensure tied to specific programs like CNA, welding, or radiology tech.
How do I contact the school or apply?
You can reach Sauk Valley Community College at (815) 288-5511 or through its website at https://www.svcc.edu/.
How does this campus compare with other schools offering the same trade nearby?
This data does not include comparisons with other nearby schools; check the College Scorecard link to compare completion rates, debt, and earnings across institutions.
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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.