South Suburban College

What South Suburban College does

South Suburban College (SSC) is a public community college chartered by the State of Illinois and governed by an elected Board of Trustees, operating from its Main Campus in South Holland, Illinois, with a satellite Oak Forest Center and a working warehouse facility in South Holland used for workforce training. Founded in 1927 (originally as Thornton Junior College), the institution is one of the oldest community colleges in Illinois and is preparing for its Centennial in 2027, currently in its 99th year of operation. SSC delivers associate degrees (AA, AS, AFA, AES, AAS, AGS), career certificates, and non-credit continuing, corporate, and community education (C3), serving 8,000+ students annually at a 16:1 student-to-faculty ratio across seven academic divisions including allied health, nursing, business, legal studies, STEM, and humanities.

The college's underlying technology stack is built entirely on third-party education platforms: D2L Brightspace for online learning management, Ellucian Cloud for student information and self-service, Microsoft Office 365 for productivity, and QLess for virtual queuing across advising and registration. Fully online programs (AA, AGS, Community Health Worker AAS, Law & Paralegal Studies AAS, Coding Specialist certificate) extend the institution beyond its geographic base, while Radiologic Technology and allied-health students complete clinical rotations at seven partner hospital systems across the Chicago metro. Student support infrastructure includes disability services, veteran and undocumented-student resources, a First-Year Experience program, and a third-party Student Assistance Program via AllOne Health that includes an AI Mental Health Navigator.

SSC's revenue model is a public-institution hybrid of per-credit-hour tuition (priced by in-district, out-of-district, and out-of-state residency tiers), supplemented by Illinois state appropriations, local property taxes, federal and state financial aid, grants, and private donations channeled through the SSC Foundation. The Foundation awards over $90,000 in scholarships annually and runs community fundraising events (Boots on the Ground Gala, Charity Golf Outing). Workforce development revenue flows through the C3 division via customized corporate training, HSE/GED, ESL, and WIOA-funded programs. No revenue figure is disclosed in the source data, and the institution is not a commercial entity — it has no parent company, no PE/VC ownership, and operates as a government-state entity.

Name

South Suburban College

Legal name

South Suburban College

Website

https://www.ssc.edu

Company type

Public

Founded year

1928

Operating status

Operating

Short description

South Suburban College is a public Illinois community college serving 8,000+ students annually from South Holland with associate degrees, career certificates, and workforce training, supported by D2L Brightspace, Ellucian Cloud, and clinical partnerships across seven Chicago-area hospital systems.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community College Education

NAICS

Junior Colleges (6112), Junior Colleges (61121), Junior Colleges (611210)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Community Colleges (EDAHADAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Comprehensive Community Colleges (Transfer + Workforce) (EDAHADAE), Multi-Campus Community College Districts (EDAHADAM)

Keywords

• Community college education
• Associate degree programs
• Career technical education
• Workforce development training
• Adult education services

Headquarters

HQ city

South Holland

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Fees: Revenue generated from student tuition and fees for credit-bearing associate degree and certificate programs. Students pay per credit hour based on residency status (in-district, out-of-district, out-of-state).
2. Non-Credit and Continuing Education: Revenue from non-credit courses, corporate training, adult education (HSE/GED, ESL), and workforce development programs through the C3 division.
3. Financial Aid and Grants: Institutional revenue supplemented by federal and state financial aid, grants, and scholarship funds disbursed to students.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

South Suburban College is a public community college providing credit-bearing associate degrees (AA, AS, AFA, AES, AAS, AGS) and certificate programs across seven academic divisions, plus non-credit workforce, adult education (HSE/GED, ESL), and customized corporate training through its C3 division. Programs are delivered via on-campus instruction at two locations (South Holland, Oak Forest), online learning through D2L Brightspace, and clinical rotations at partner healthcare sites.

Product overview

South Suburban College is a comprehensive public community college offering educational products and services across multiple delivery channels. The institution's core offerings include six types of associate degrees (AA, AS, AFA, AES, AAS, AGS) designed for transfer or career preparation, along with career certificate programs and non-credit workforce development offerings through its C3 department. The college operates digital platforms including D2L Brightspace (online learning), SSC Self-Service powered by Ellucian Cloud (student information), and QLess (virtual queuing). Student support services encompass disability accommodations, mental health support via AllOne Health, first-year experience programs, and specialized workforce training initiatives like the Recycling Warehouse Training Program.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Associate Degree Programs (AA, AS, AFA, AES, AAS, AGS)

Quantifiable outcome

• 42-16 overall baseball record and 15th Region 4 Championship (2026)
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Calumet Area Industrial Commission (CAIC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2026South Suburban College partnered with CAIC to launch the Recycling Warehouse Workforce Training Program, a six-week hands-on program (June 1 - July 14, 2026) preparing participants for careers in industrial and environmental fields. The program includes OSHA 10 and forklift certification, with SSC providing laptops, work boots, and transportation assistance to participants.
• AllOne HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSSC partnered with AllOne Health to provide a Student Assistance Program (SAP) offering confidential mental health and workplace support to students 24/7. Services include live phone support (800-451-1834), web portal, mobile app, virtual counseling sessions, and AI Mental Health Navigator ('Izzy').
• Advocate Medical GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAdvocate Medical Group provides clinical education sites for SSC's Radiologic Technology program at multiple locations including Beverly, Orland Park, Evergreen Park, Oak Lawn, and South Holland campuses, and South Suburban Hospital in Hazel Crest, and Trinity Hospital in Chicago.
• UChicago Medicine (Ingalls Memorial)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUChicago Medicine Ingalls Memorial Hospital and its affiliated outpatient centers in Harvey, Calumet City, Flossmoor, and Tinley Park serve as clinical education sites for SSC's Radiologic Technology program.
• Franciscan Health Olympia FieldscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFranciscan Health Olympia Fields provides clinical education sites for SSC's Radiologic Technology program.
• Roseland Community HospitalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRoseland Community Hospital in Chicago provides clinical education sites for SSC's Radiologic Technology program.
• St. Catherine Hospital (East Chicago, IN)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSt. Catherine Hospital in East Chicago, Indiana provides clinical education sites for SSC's Radiologic Technology program.
• Idlewild Country ClubminorOthersIdlewild Country Club (19201 Dixie Highway, Flossmoor, Illinois) is the venue for the SSC Foundation's 5th Annual Charity Golf Outing on August 10, 2026.
• One Million Degrees (OMD)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne Million Degrees (OMD), a community college support organization, partners with SSC to provide comprehensive support to low-income, highly motivated community college students through coaching, financial assistance, and professional development. OMD hosted an inaugural welcome event at SSC with 39 scholars in attendance.
• What the Fork Restaurant Group LLCminorOthersWhat the Fork Restaurant Group LLC powers the BBQ Patio Pop-Up food series at the SSC Main Campus courtyard, providing food vendors for student and community events.
• State Representative William DavisminorOthersState Representative William Davis presents a FREE Community Shred Day, Electronic Recycling, and Prescription Drug Take Back event at SSC, open to the public.
• Womanly Delight Productions LLC (W.D.P.)minorOthersW.D.P. Creative Collective Space, a professional membership-based production facility, held its grand opening on June 27, 2026 at 502 W. Taft Drive in South Holland, in collaboration with SSC.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Prairie State College: Public community college in Chicago Heights, IL — directly adjacent to SSC's South Holland service area. Most direct geographic competitor for students in the south suburbs with similar associate degree, certificate, and workforce development offerings.
• Moraine Valley Community College: Public community college in Palos Hills, IL — nearby competitor serving overlapping south/southwest suburban Chicago populations. Offers comparable AA/AS/AAS degrees, allied health programs, and continuing education.
• Joliet Junior College: Illinois' first community college (1901), based in Joliet with multiple campuses. Comparable in scale, mission, and program mix — strong benchmark for SSC's transfer, career, and workforce offerings.
• College of DuPage: Large public community college in Glen Ellyn, IL serving Chicago's western suburbs. Similar comprehensive offerings (transfer, career, continuing education) with significantly larger enrollment, providing a benchmark for SSC's aspirational scale.
• Harper College: Public community college in Palatine, IL serving Chicago's northwest suburbs. Comparable mid-size community college with similar allied health, transfer, and workforce development programs.
• Triton College: Public community college in River Grove, IL serving Chicago's western and near-western suburbs. Comparable program portfolio including Radiologic Technology and parallel student demographics.
• Oakton College: Public community college in Des Plaines, IL serving Chicago's northern suburbs. Comparable comprehensive transfer and workforce offerings and a benchmark for SSC's online program expansion strategy.
• City Colleges of Chicago (Richard J. Daley College): One of seven City Colleges of Chicago, serving similar urban and under-resourced populations on Chicago's South Side. Comparable mission around access, adult education, and workforce credentialing.

Regional players

• Kankakee Community College: Public community college in Kankakee, IL serving a more rural/regional population south of Chicago. Similar program offerings and credit/non-credit mix in an adjacent service area.
• Indiana University Northwest: Regional public university in Gary, IN. Adjacent four-year transfer destination for SSC students and a competing provider for the same northwest Indiana / south suburban population (St. Catherine Hospital partnership spans East Chicago).

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/94208444941

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about South Suburban College