Prairie State College
Prairie State College is a public community college serving Illinois Community College District 515 in Chicago Heights, Illinois. It delivers associate degrees, transfer pathways, workforce development, dual credit, and adult education across two campuses and online via Desire2Learn, funded by tiered tuition and public appropriations.
- Company typePublic
- Founded1957
- HeadquartersChicago, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Prairie State College does
Prairie State College is a public community college operating under Illinois Community College District 515, headquartered at 202 S. Halsted St., Chicago Heights, Illinois, with a secondary Matteson Area Center at 4821 Southwick Dr. Founded in 1957, the institution serves the Chicago Southland region through in-person, hybrid, and fully online modalities delivered via the Desire2Learn (D2L) learning management system, with a Pioneer Portal providing student self-service for registration, grades, financial aid, and transcripts. The college offers academic programs across Allied Health and Emergency Services, Career and Technical Education, Liberal Arts and Social Sciences, and Math and Science, alongside workforce development, adult education, TRIO Student Services, athletics, and a dual credit program that allows high school students to earn transferable college credit at no cost.
The institution generates revenue primarily through per-credit-hour tuition differentiated across four residency tiers ($174 in-district; $399.25 Illinois out-of-district; $214 Lake County, Indiana; $471 out-of-state/international through Summer 2026), supplemented by a Pioneer Book Bundle at $25/credit hour, NelNet payment plans, and pass-through administration of federal and state financial aid (Pell, MAP, FSEOG, Federal Work Study, and WEI grants) along with PSC Foundation scholarships. The college reaches students through its website, organic social media, community events such as Veterans Day ceremonies and commencement, high school dual credit partnerships, and earned media. PSC participates in the CAREER Cooperative with approximately 50 Illinois community colleges and maintains a community-facing art partnership with Wind Creek Chicago Southland for rotating exhibitions curated by the Christopher Art Gallery.
Operationally, the college is governed by an elected Board of Trustees and led by President Michael Anthony alongside vice presidents overseeing Student Affairs, Academic Affairs, Human Resources, External Affairs, and Public Safety, with a separate Dean structure spanning Workforce Development, Student Success, Student Engagement, Liberal Arts, Dual Credit, Adult Education, and Enrollment Management. Customer-facing outcomes reported include 92% of students feeling prepared to transfer to four-year institutions, 61% receiving financial aid, and 15+ support services available. The institution does not disclose revenue, operates without private equity or venture capital ownership, and is publicly funded through state appropriations, local property taxes, and tuition.
Prairie State College firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Prairie State College
- Legal name
- Prairie State College
- Website
- https://prairiestate.edu
- Company type
- Public
- Founded year
- 1957
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Prairie State College is a public community college serving Illinois Community College District 515 in Chicago Heights, Illinois. It delivers associate degrees, transfer pathways, workforce development, dual credit, and adult education across two campuses and online via Desire2Learn, funded by tiered tuition and public appropriations.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Prairie State College industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Community College Education
- NAICS
- Junior Colleges (61121), Junior Colleges (6112), Educational Services (611)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Comprehensive Community Colleges (Transfer + Workforce) (EDAHADAE)
Keywords
Where Prairie State College is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Chicago
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Prairie State College business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Tuition and Fees: Prairie State College generates primary revenue through tuition and mandatory fees charged per credit hour. Tuition rates vary by residency status: in-district residents pay $174/credit hour (through Summer 2026), out-of-district Illinois residents pay $399.25/credit hour, Lake County Indiana residents pay $214/credit hour, and out-of-state/international students pay $471/credit hour. Fees include a general student fee of $30.50/credit hour supporting tutoring, campus technology, student services, facilities, and wellness resources.
- Financial Aid and Grants: The college distributes federal and state financial aid including Pell Grants, MAP Grants, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (FSEOG), Federal Work Study, and WEI (Workforce Equity Initiative) Grants. Foundation scholarships are also available through the PSC Foundation.
- Pioneer Book Bundle Program: Eligible students are automatically enrolled in the Pioneer Book Bundle program at $25 per credit hour for all required textbooks, billed in addition to tuition and fees. Allied Health, Early College Initiative, non-credit, dual-credit, and company-sponsored programs are excluded.
- Payment Plans: The college offers NelNet payment plans allowing students to break up costs over the semester, with a $40 non-refundable setup fee. Third-party payments from employers, 529 plans, and IDHS vouchers are also accepted.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | In-District Residents and Companies |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Illinois Out-of-District Residents |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Lake County, Indiana Residents |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Out-of-State/International Students |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels5 records
Prairie State College product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Prairie State College is a public community college offering associate degree and certificate programs in Allied Health and Emergency Services, Career and Technical Education, Liberal Arts and Social Sciences, and Math and Science. It also delivers dual credit courses for high school students, workforce development and community education, adult education and literacy, TRIO student support services, and athletics programs, with instruction available in-person, hybrid, and fully online formats.
Product overview
Prairie State College offers a unified educational services platform consisting of academic programs (Allied Health, Career and Technical Education, Liberal Arts, Math and Science), student support services (TRIO, Career Services, Transfer Counseling, Student Success Center), and digital platforms (Desire2Learn LMS, Pioneer Portal). The institution also provides workforce development, dual credit programs for high school students, athletics, and community engagement through the PEACE Center. Programs are delivered through in-person, hybrid, and online modalities with support services including financial aid, veterans affairs, and disability services.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Pioneer Book Bundle: Textbook program providing required textbooks at $25 per credit hour for eligible students
- Pioneer Portal
- PEACE Center
- Pioneer Pantry
- PSC Alert
Products and services
- Academic Programs (Allied Health, Career and Technical Education, Liberal Arts and Social Sciences, Math and Science)
- Dual Credit Program for High School Students
- Online Learning
- Workforce Development and Community Education
- Adult Education and Literacy
- TRIO Student Services
- Transfer Counseling
- Career Services
- Athletics
- Pioneer Book Bundle Program
- CAREER Cooperative Program
- PEACE Center
Quantifiable outcome
- 92% of students feel prepared to transfer to 4-year institutions
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Prairie State College
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Prairie State College technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Prairie State College partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Wind Creek Chicago SouthlandcorePrairie State College and Wind Creek Chicago Southland continue their art partnership launched in July 2025, featuring rotating exhibitions of local artists from the Chicago Southland region at Wind Creek's venue in East Hazel Crest. The showcase, which has highlighted five artists including Chidera Onyeizeh, Art Jackson, Patrick Thompson, Mary Ann Trzyna, and James Bowden, is curated by the Christopher Art Gallery at Prairie State College. The collaboration provides professional exhibition space for regional artists to exhibit and sell their work while expanding community access to local art.
- Illinois Community Colleges (CAREER Cooperative)minorPSC participates in the CAREER Cooperative (Comprehensive Agreement Regarding the Expansion of Educational Resources) with approximately 50 Illinois community colleges. This allows residents of District #515 to pursue AAS degrees or certificates not offered by PSC at partner colleges at in-district tuition rates, and allows out-of-district residents to attend PSC for programs not offered in their home districts.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Prairie State College competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- College of DuPage: Large public community college in Glen Ellyn, IL serving DuPage County with comprehensive transfer, career, and continuing education programs. Comparable in program breadth and community college model to PSC.
- Triton College: Public community college in River Grove, IL serving Chicago's western suburbs with associate degrees, dual credit, and workforce credentials. Directly comparable mission and delivery model to PSC.
- Joliet Junior College: Illinois public community college in Joliet, IL offering associate degrees, dual credit, and allied health/workforce programs. Comparable in program mix and transfer pathway mission to PSC.
- South Suburban College: Public community college in South Holland, IL immediately adjacent to PSC's Chicago Southland district. Offers similar associate degrees, workforce training, and community-based student services to a comparable demographic.
- Kankakee Community College: Public community college in Kankakee, IL serving a similar rural-adjacent Illinois district with associate degrees, workforce training, and dual credit programs. Comparable institutional profile and funding structure to PSC.
- Moraine Valley Community College: Public community college in Palos Hills, IL serving Chicago's southwest suburbs with associate degrees, dual credit, and workforce programs. Directly comparable in mission, size, and geographic catchment to PSC.
- City Colleges of Chicago: System of seven public community colleges across Chicago, including Richard J. Daley and Kennedy-King, offering associate degrees, dual credit, and career programs. Comparable public community college model and urban Illinois context to PSC.
- Harper College: Public community college in Palatine, IL offering associate degrees, dual credit, and workforce development in Chicago's northwest suburbs. Comparable mission, scale, and program portfolio to PSC.
- Heartland Community College: Public community college in Normal, IL with associate degrees, dual credit, and workforce credentials. Comparable Illinois public community college mission, program mix, and transfer pathway orientation to PSC.
- Oakton College: Public community college in Des Plaines, IL with associate degree, transfer, and continuing education programs serving northern Cook County. Comparable scope, program mix, and public community college structure to PSC.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Prairie State College social profiles
Digital presencePrairie State College financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Prairie State College leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles13 records
Prairie State College funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Prairie State College M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Prairie State College
What does Prairie State College do?
Prairie State College is a public community college offering associate degree and certificate programs in Allied Health and Emergency Services, Career and Technical Education, Liberal Arts and Social Sciences, and Math and Science. It also delivers dual credit courses for high school students, workforce development and community education, adult education and literacy, TRIO student support services, and athletics programs, with instruction available in-person, hybrid, and fully online formats.
Is Prairie State College a public or private company?
Prairie State College is a public company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was Prairie State College founded?
Prairie State College was founded in 1957. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Prairie State College based?
Prairie State College is headquartered in Chicago, United States, in the North America region.
How does Prairie State College make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Tuition and Fees are the primary driver. The others are financial Aid and Grants, pioneer Book Bundle Program and payment Plans.
Who are Prairie State College's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are College of DuPage, Triton College, Joliet Junior College, South Suburban College, Kankakee Community College, Moraine Valley Community College, City Colleges of Chicago, Harper College, Heartland Community College and Oakton College.
Does Prairie State College have an API?
No public API is recorded for Prairie State College.
What industry is Prairie State College in?
Prairie State College's product category is Community College Education. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAHADAE, Comprehensive Community Colleges (Transfer + Workforce). Its NAICS code is 61121 and its SIC code is 8200.