McHenry County College is a public institution offering associate degrees based in Crystal Lake, Illinois. It enrolls 4,691 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.
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
68/100
UCD Score · 2-Year
Outcomes48
Value80
Affordability37
Selectivity—
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
As a two-year college, McHenry County 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 McHenry County 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 $7,042 per year. That's well below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$7,042
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
11%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
1%
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)
$4,162
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$14,399
Room & Board (off-campus)
$12,090
Books & Supplies
$1,400
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$9,324
Total Cost of Attendance
$12,345
Application fee: $15 (one-time, due at submission)
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
$5,609
$30,001 – $48,000
$6,383
$48,001 – $75,000
$7,761
$75,001 – $110,000
$10,497
Over $110,000
$12,345
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.
$1,51510%percentile
$2,30025%percentile
$6,260Medianpercentile
$8,16075%percentile
$13,50090%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 $5,500
↓ $760
No Pell $5,251
↓ $1,009
Dependent students $4,950
↓ $1,310
Independent students $7,705
↑ $1,445
Female students $5,500
↓ $760
Male students $5,000
↓ $1,260
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $5,000, close to what completers borrow ($6,260) but without the degree to show for it.
Graduation Rate & Retention
27% of full-time students who enrolled at McHenry County College graduate within six years, and 70% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
27%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
70%
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 McHenry County College earn a median of $45,143 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$45,143
Earning > $25K
72%
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
$31,500
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$43,600
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$32,900
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$37,700
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$40,900
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $12,100, about 28% 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.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
15.4 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Strong. 75% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.
Who Studies Here
McHenry County College is home to 4,691 students, a mid-sized community. Some distinctive traits: 48% are first-generation college students, 55% study part-time.
Total Enrolled
4,691
Part-Time
55%
First-Generation
48%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 60.2%2,823
Hispanic 27.2%1,276
Other 4.1%194
Asian 2.6%124
Black 2.3%109
International 0.0%1
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at McHenry County College. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Rural: FringeCrystal Lake, Illinois
Housing
Commuter campusNo on-campus housing
Adult Learners
18%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
Designation
Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI)
What You Can Study
McHenry County College offers
a varied set of programs:
36 distinct programs across
15 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.
The student-to-faculty ratio at McHenry County College is 24:1, high (larger classes are common).
Student : Faculty
24:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$5,843
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$12M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$103,729
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
90 instructional faculty across 1 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
No Rank
90
100%
$103,729
Pros & Cons of McHenry County College
A quick at-a-glance summary of how McHenry County College tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Very affordable net price after aid
Open admissions
Low typical debt at graduation
First-gen-friendly student body
Flexible part-time enrollment options
CONS
Larger class sizes than typical
Low completion rate, many students don't graduate within six years
Modest first-year retention
Predominantly serves middle- and upper-income families
Mostly part-time student body, less full-time campus feel
Best for:
Based on the data, McHenry County College is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier; families focused on keeping net cost low; working adults or students needing part-time study options.
Frequently Asked Questions about McHenry County College
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about McHenry County College.
Is McHenry County College hard to get into?
McHenry County College has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted.
What is the acceptance rate at McHenry County College?
McHenry County College has an acceptance rate of 0%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does McHenry County College cost?
The average net price after aid at McHenry County College is $7,042 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is McHenry County College worth it?
Strong return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $45,143 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $7,042 per year. That's roughly 6.4x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is McHenry County College known for?
McHenry County College is best known for its programs in Liberal Arts, Liberal Arts, Practical Nursing. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do McHenry County College graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering McHenry County College are $45,143, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is McHenry County College accredited?
Yes. McHenry County College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
How many students attend McHenry County College?
McHenry County College enrolls 4,691 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at McHenry County College?
McHenry County College graduates 27% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is McHenry County College a public or private college?
McHenry County College is a Public institution.
Where is McHenry County College located?
McHenry County College is located in Crystal Lake, Illinois.
What programs does McHenry County College offer?
McHenry County College offers 36 distinct programs. The most popular include Liberal Arts, Liberal Arts, Practical Nursing.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at McHenry County College?
The student-to-faculty ratio at McHenry County College is 24:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
Related Colleges in Illinois
Other colleges in Illinois share the same applicant pool, regional economy, and academic landscape. Comparing nearby options puts admissions, costs, and outcomes in context, useful when weighing your fit against local alternatives.
Liberal Arts
Practical Nursing
Biological and Physical Sciences
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