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Heartland Community College

Public Associate Good 65/100

Heartland Community College

See admissions data, costs, student outcomes, and academic programs, all verified from official US government sources.

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Normal, Illinois

About Heartland Community College

Heartland Community College is a public institution offering associate degrees based in Normal, Illinois. It enrolls 2,997 students (a mid-sized student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.

Official website: heartland.edu

Acceptance: Open
Graduation: 26%
Net Price: $12,013
Median Earnings (10yr): $40,768
Enrollment: 2,997
Student : Faculty: 19:1

Accreditor Higher Learning Commission

Academic Calendar Semester

How It Measures Up

US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (2-Year). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.

Good

65/100

UCD Score · 2-Year

Outcomes 64

Value 46

Affordability 29

Selectivity —

Admissions & Acceptance Rate

As a two-year college, Heartland Community College generally admits all qualified applicants.

Acceptance Rate

Open

SAT Range (25th–75th)

—

Not reported

ACT Range (25th–75th)

—

Not reported

Cost & Financial Aid

The real cost of attending Heartland Community College isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $12,013 per year. That's below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.

Average Net Price

$12,013

Per year, after typical aid

Receive Pell Grants

21%

Need-based federal aid

Receive Federal Loans

Borrowing to attend

Full Cost Breakdown

Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.

Tuition & Fees (in-state): $5,550
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state): $13,110
Room & Board (off-campus): $11,550
Books & Supplies: $900
Other Expenses (off-campus): $3,344
Total Cost of Attendance: $16,727

Net Price by Family Income

Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.

Under $30,000

$9,593
$30,001 – $48,000

$10,872
$48,001 – $75,000

$12,959
$75,001 – $110,000

$15,469
Over $110,000

$16,073

Debt at Graduation

Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.

$1,750

10% percentile

$2,750

25% percentile

$7,826

Median percentile

$8,739

75% percentile

$12,642

90% percentile

Median Debt by Student Type

Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.

GroupDebtvs Median

Pell recipients $5,181 ↓ $2,645

No Pell $5,500 ↓ $2,326

Dependent students $5,500 ↓ $2,326

Independent students $5,500 ↓ $2,326

Female students $5,500 ↓ $2,326

Male students $5,500 ↓ $2,326

Worth knowing: Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $4,500, less than completers ($7,826), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.

Graduation Rate & Retention

26% of full-time students who enrolled at Heartland Community College graduate within six years, and 72% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

6-Year Graduation Rate

26%

Of students who graduate within six years

First-Year Retention

72%

Returning for their second year

What this means: Lower than typical completion. Worth asking the school how they support students who fall behind.

After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes

According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Heartland Community College earn a median of $40,768 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.

Median Earnings (10 yrs)

$40,768

Earning > $25K

66%

10 yrs after entry

Earnings Growth After Graduation

Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.

Earnings by Demographic

Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.

By Gender

Female graduates

$28,200

Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.

Male graduates

$35,500

Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.

The gender gap: Male graduates earn $7,300, about 21% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.

Loan Repayment Progression

Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.

Stable ↑ 1.9 pts across 6 years

What this signals: Moderate. Only 64% of graduates are paying down principal seven years out.

Who Studies Here

Heartland Community College is home to 2,997 students, a mid-sized community. Some distinctive traits: 40% are first-generation college students, 54% study part-time.

Total Enrolled

2,997

Part-Time

54%

First-Generation

40%

Race & Ethnicity Breakdown

Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.

GroupShareStudents

White 62.2% 1,864

Black 14.4% 430

Hispanic 11.7% 350

Other 6.8% 204

International 2.2% 67

Asian 1.8% 55

Student Life & Campus Culture

Where students live, learn, and connect at Heartland Community College. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.

Setting

Midsize Suburb Normal, Illinois

Housing

Commuter campus No on-campus housing

Adult Learners

23% of students are 25 or older

Athletics

NCAA athletic-conference member

Academic Calendar

Semester scheduling structure

What You Can Study

Heartland Community College offers a varied set of programs: 25 distinct programs across 10 majors. Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings. Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.

2 Programs

Liberal Arts

Liberal Arts $53K ($36K–$73K)
Liberal Arts $53K ($36K–$73K)

10 Programs

Health

Practical Nursing $39K ($22K–$72K)
Medical Assisting $69K ($46K–$91K)
Nursing $89K ($68K–$114K)

1 Program

Precision Production

Precision Metal Working

1 Program

Interdisciplinary Studies

Biological and Physical Sciences $59K ($41K–$82K)

3 Programs

Engineering Tech

2 Programs

Business

Business Operations Support and Assistant $28K ($20K–$49K)
Business Operations Support and Assistant $28K ($20K–$49K)

1 Program

Agriculture

Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians $44K ($35K–$58K)

2 Programs

Computer Science

Computer Systems Networking $74K ($51K–$102K)
Computer Software & Media $59K ($36K–$88K)

View all majors View all programs

Faculty & Resources

The student-to-faculty ratio at Heartland Community College is 19:1, on the higher side.

Student : Faculty

19:1

Students per instructional faculty member

Instruction / Student

$6,938

Annual instructional spending per enrolled student

Endowment

$17M

Modest endowment

Avg Faculty Salary

$73,723

9-month equivalent across all ranks

Faculty by Rank

80 instructional faculty across 4 ranks. The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.

Rank	Faculty Count	Share	Avg Salary
Full Professors	39	49%	$84,947
Associate Professors	10	13%	$68,417
Assistant Professors	13	16%	$63,157
Instructors	18	23%	$59,982

Pros & Cons of Heartland Community College

A quick at-a-glance summary of how Heartland Community College tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.

PROS

Below-average net price
Open admissions
Low typical debt at graduation
Flexible part-time enrollment options

CONS

Class sizes are on the higher side
Low completion rate, many students don't graduate within six years
Modest first-year retention
Earnings outcomes are on the lower side
Predominantly serves middle- and upper-income families

Best for: Based on the data, Heartland Community College is a fit for students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier; working adults or students needing part-time study options.

Frequently Asked Questions about Heartland Community College

Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Heartland Community College.

Is Heartland Community College hard to get into?

Heartland Community College has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted.

What is the acceptance rate at Heartland Community College?

Heartland Community College has an acceptance rate of 0%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.

How much does Heartland Community College cost?

The average net price after aid at Heartland Community College is $12,013 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.

Is Heartland Community College worth it?

Solid return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $40,768 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $12,013 per year. That's roughly 3.4x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.

What is Heartland Community College known for?

Heartland Community College is best known for its programs in Liberal Arts, Practical Nursing, Liberal Arts. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

What do Heartland Community College graduates earn?

Median earnings 10 years after entering Heartland Community College are $40,768, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.

Is Heartland Community College accredited?

Yes. Heartland Community College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

How many students attend Heartland Community College?

Heartland Community College enrolls 2,997 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.

What is the graduation rate at Heartland Community College?

Heartland Community College graduates 26% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

Is Heartland Community College a public or private college?

Heartland Community College is a Public institution.

Where is Heartland Community College located?

Heartland Community College is located in Normal, Illinois.

What programs does Heartland Community College offer?

Heartland Community College offers 25 distinct programs. The most popular include Liberal Arts, Practical Nursing, Liberal Arts.

What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Heartland Community College?

The student-to-faculty ratio at Heartland Community College is 19:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.