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Waubonsee Community College

Public Associate Good 63/100

Waubonsee Community College

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

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Sugar Grove, Illinois

About Waubonsee Community College

Waubonsee Community College is a public institution offering associate degrees based in Sugar Grove, Illinois. It enrolls 5,721 students (a large 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: waubonsee.edu

Acceptance: Open
Graduation: 25.1%
Net Price: $11,442
Median Earnings (10yr): $44,788
Enrollment: 5,721
Student : Faculty: 21:1

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

63/100

UCD Score · 2-Year

Outcomes 52

Value 54

Affordability 30

Selectivity —

Admissions & Acceptance Rate

As a two-year college, Waubonsee 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 Waubonsee 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 $11,442 per year. That's below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.

Average Net Price

$11,442

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): $3,504
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state): $10,477
Room & Board (off-campus): $22,700
Books & Supplies: $1,600
Other Expenses (off-campus): $8,084
Total Cost of Attendance: $19,336

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

$7,360
$30,001 – $48,000

$8,641
$48,001 – $75,000

$11,806
$75,001 – $110,000

$16,173
Over $110,000

$18,171

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.

$1,400

10% percentile

$2,250

25% percentile

$7,000

Median percentile

$7,000

75% percentile

$11,500

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 $4,500 ↓ $2,500

No Pell $3,500 ↓ $3,500

Dependent students $3,500 ↓ $3,500

Independent students $5,500 ↓ $1,500

Female students $4,500 ↓ $2,500

Male students $4,250 ↓ $2,750

Worth knowing: Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $3,500, less than completers ($7,000), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.

Graduation Rate & Retention

25% of full-time students who enrolled at Waubonsee Community College graduate within six years, and 71% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

6-Year Graduation Rate

25%

Of students who graduate within six years

First-Year Retention

71%

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 Waubonsee Community College earn a median of $44,788 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.

Median Earnings (10 yrs)

$44,788

Earning > $25K

69%

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

$34,100

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

Male graduates

$40,800

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

By Family Income at Entry

Family income (lowest third)

$31,300

Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.

Family income (middle third)

$41,200

Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.

Family income (highest third)

$42,800

Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.

The gender gap: Male graduates earn $6,700, about 16% 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 ↑ 8.1 pts across 6 years

What this signals: Moderate. Only 65% of graduates are paying down principal seven years out.

Who Studies Here

Waubonsee Community College is home to 5,721 students, a large student community. Some distinctive traits: 49% are first-generation college students, 59% study part-time.

Total Enrolled

5,721

Part-Time

59%

First-Generation

49%

Race & Ethnicity Breakdown

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

GroupShareStudents

Hispanic 45.7% 2,615

White 38.3% 2,188

Black 9.0% 513

Asian 3.8% 219

Other 3.1% 178

Student Life & Campus Culture

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

Setting

Rural: Fringe Sugar Grove, Illinois

Housing

Commuter campus No on-campus housing

Adult Learners

26% of students are 25 or older

Athletics

NCAA athletic-conference member

Academic Calendar

Semester scheduling structure

Designation

Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI)

What You Can Study

Waubonsee Community College offers a varied set of programs: 35 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.

1 Program

Liberal Arts

Liberal Arts $53K ($36K–$73K)

1 Program

Interdisciplinary Studies

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

7 Programs

Health

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

3 Programs

Mechanics & Repair

Vehicle Maintenance $81K ($63K–$104K)
Vehicle Maintenance $81K ($63K–$104K)
Vehicle Maintenance $81K ($63K–$104K)

4 Programs

Business

Business Administration $68K ($48K–$94K)
Human Resources $68K ($50K–$91K)
Accounting $76K ($56K–$97K)

2 Programs

Precision Production

4 Programs

Engineering Tech

View all majors View all programs

Faculty & Resources

The student-to-faculty ratio at Waubonsee Community College is 21:1, on the higher side.

Student : Faculty

21:1

Students per instructional faculty member

Instruction / Student

$5,470

Annual instructional spending per enrolled student

Endowment

$7.0M

Modest endowment

Avg Faculty Salary

$110,552

9-month equivalent across all ranks

Faculty by Rank

88 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	26	30%	$128,075
Associate Professors	25	28%	$110,321
Assistant Professors	25	28%	$99,179
Instructors	12	14%	$96,760

Pros & Cons of Waubonsee Community College

A quick at-a-glance summary of how Waubonsee 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
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, Waubonsee 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 Waubonsee Community College

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

Is Waubonsee Community College hard to get into?

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

What is the acceptance rate at Waubonsee Community College?

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

How much does Waubonsee Community College cost?

The average net price after aid at Waubonsee Community College is $11,442 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.

Is Waubonsee Community College worth it?

Solid return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $44,788 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $11,442 per year. That's roughly 3.9x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.

What is Waubonsee Community College known for?

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

What do Waubonsee Community College graduates earn?

Median earnings 10 years after entering Waubonsee Community College are $44,788, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.

Is Waubonsee Community College accredited?

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

How many students attend Waubonsee Community College?

Waubonsee Community College enrolls 5,721 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.

What is the graduation rate at Waubonsee Community College?

Waubonsee Community College graduates 25% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

Is Waubonsee Community College a public or private college?

Waubonsee Community College is a Public institution.

Where is Waubonsee Community College located?

Waubonsee Community College is located in Sugar Grove, Illinois.

What programs does Waubonsee Community College offer?

Waubonsee Community College offers 35 distinct programs. The most popular include Liberal Arts, Biological and Physical Sciences, Practical Nursing.

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

The student-to-faculty ratio at Waubonsee Community College is 21:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.