Rend Lake College

What Rend Lake College does

Rend Lake College (RLC) is a public two-year community college in the Illinois Community College System, originally founded in 1955 as Mt. Vernon Community College and reorganized under its current name in 1967. It operates across three campuses — a 350-acre main site in Ina plus satellite locations in Mt. Vernon (MarketPlace) and Pinckneyville (Murphy-Wall) — serving an eight-county district in Southern Illinois (Franklin, Hamilton, Jefferson, Perry, parts of Wayne, White, plus Washington and Williamson). The institution offers more than 100 degree and certificate programs organized primarily around Associate in Arts transfer pathways and Associate in Applied Science career-technical tracks, with specialized offerings in Agriculture (including Digital Agriculture and Agricultural Technology, the only such programs in Southern Illinois), Nursing, Information Technology, Criminal Justice, and Industrial Mechatronics. Core technology infrastructure comprises the Ellucian Colleague student information system, Canvas LMS, and the MyRLC student portal; the Southern Illinois Manufacturing Academy (SIMA) is a 21,629-square-foot dedicated training facility, and the college holds HLC accreditation since 1969 plus program-specific accreditations from ACEN, NATEF, JRCERT, and CoAEMSP.

Revenue is generated through a public funding model combining Illinois state appropriations, local property taxes from the eight-county district, tuition and fees, federal financial aid (approximately 80% of full-time students receive assistance, with Pell Grants as a primary mechanism), grants from entities such as IGEN, and RLC Foundation scholarship endowments. GTM motion is hybrid: direct-to-consumer enrollment via the Ellucian portal and campus visits, community-led high school outreach through dual credit with 13 districts and Kickstart Your Journey events, and event-driven employer partnerships — most notably a three-year paid Registered Apprenticeship with Continental AG housed at SIMA, plus AGCO NextTECH and CNH Top Tech partnerships in agricultural mechanics. Customer segments span first-time college students, non-traditional adult learners, high school students (via dual credit and the Raise A Warrior microscholarship program), and regional employers/workforce partners. The college is governed by a Board of Trustees under the Illinois Junior College Act, with Lori Ragland serving as the eighth full-time President since July 2025.

Name

Rend Lake College

Legal name

Rend Lake College

Website

https://rlc.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1967

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Rend Lake College is a public two-year community college in the Illinois Community College System, operating three campuses across an eight-county Southern Illinois district and serving first-time students, adult learners, high school dual-enrollment students, and regional employers through 100+ degree and certificate programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community College Education

NAICS

Junior Colleges (61121), Other Technical and Trade Schools (611519)

akta.pro primary industry

Specialty Law Schools (e.g., Tax, IP, International, Trial Advocacy) (EDAHAIAF)

akta.pro secondary industry

Dual Enrollment / Early College Programs (via Community Colleges) (EDAHADAH)

Keywords

• Community college education
• Associate degree programs
• Career technical training
• Workforce development programs
• Agricultural technology education

Headquarters

HQ city

Ina

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. State Appropriations and Property Tax: Public community college funded primarily through Illinois state appropriations and local property taxes from the eight-county district
2. Tuition and Fees: Revenue from student tuition and fees for credit and non-credit programs
3. Federal Financial Aid: Participation in federal student aid programs including Pell Grants, with approximately 80% of full-time students receiving financial assistance
4. Foundation Scholarships: RLC Foundation awards hundreds of scholarships totaling hundreds of thousands of dollars annually from donor-endowed funds
5. Grants: Grant funding from entities such as IGEN ($199,951 for Student Center Efficiency Project), with High 5 Campaign offering $125,000 in matching opportunities

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Rend Lake College is a public two-year community college in the Illinois Community College System delivering associate degrees (Arts and Applied Science), short-term certificates, competency-based credentials (A.M.P.), apprenticeships, and continuing education across disciplines including agriculture, nursing, business, IT, criminal justice, manufacturing, and cosmetology. It serves an eight-county district in Southern Illinois through three campuses and dual credit partnerships with 13 high school districts.

Product overview

Rend Lake College offers a comprehensive portfolio of educational products and services centered around its core academic degree and certificate programs. The college provides over 100 degree and certificate options across multiple disciplines, primarily organized into Associate in Arts (transfer-focused) and Associate in Applied Science (career-technical) degree pathways. Key program areas include Agriculture (with specialized tracks in Business, Mechanics, Production & Management, Technology, and Digital Agriculture), Nursing, Business, Information Technology, and Criminal Justice. The institution also offers competency-based education through its A.M.P. (At My Pace) program and apprenticeship opportunities through the Southern Illinois Manufacturing Academy (SIMA) in partnership with employers like Continental AG. Student services are delivered through the MyRLC portal integrating Canvas LMS, academic records, and other learning resources.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Banterra Sports Complex at RLC: Sports complex housing Waugh Gymnasium, part of The Game Plan capital campaign.
• Studio RLC
• Southern Illinois Manufacturing Academy (SIMA)
• RL Confections
• The Rec / Wayne Arnold Recreational Center
• RLC Foundation Children's Center
• The Game Plan

Products and services

• Agricultural Programs (Associate Degrees and Certificates) Agricultural program portfolio including Associate in Arts in Agriculture, Associate in Applied Science degrees in Agricultural Business, Agricultural Mechanics, Agricultural Production & Management, Agricultural Technology, and Digital Agriculture, plus certificates in Agricultural Mechanics, Agricultural Production & Management, Spray Applicator, Digital Agriculture, and Agricultural Automation. Designed for students pursuing careers or transfer in modern agriculture, agronomy, and farm technology.
• Southern Illinois Manufacturing Academy (SIMA) State-of-the-art 21,629 square foot manufacturing training academy providing advanced instruction in Electronics, Robotics, PLCs, Pneumatics, Machining, Welding, Wiring, Power & Controls, with MSSC and SACA certifications. Serves students and incumbent workers in the manufacturing sector.
• Industrial Mechatronics and Maintenance Technology Apprenticeship Three-year paid Registered Apprenticeship in Industrial Mechatronics and Maintenance Technology offered in partnership with Continental AG. Combines two days per week classroom instruction at SIMA with three days on-the-job training at Continental. Graduates earn an AAS degree and federal Registered Apprenticeship certification.
• A.M.P. (At My Pace) Competency-Based Education Competency-based education option that allows students to learn at their own pace and earn credit through demonstrated competencies. Identified as RLC's 2024 Quality Initiative for HLC accreditation.
• Associate Degree Nursing (ADN) Program Professional nursing program preparing students for high-demand roles in healthcare with critical thinking, problem-solving, clinical reasoning, and nursing judgment skills. ACEN-accredited through 2033.
• Business Program

Quantifiable outcome

• 56% student completion rate compared to 35% national average and 34% in Illinois
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered supporting, core, minor and major.

• Deaconess Illinois Crossroads AuxiliarysupportingGTM or Marketing Partner · 27 May 2026Healthcare auxiliary organization established High 5 Scholarship Endowment through RLC Foundation. The $1,000 annual scholarship supports students pursuing healthcare careers and requires 2.0 GPA minimum. Auxiliary has approximately 100 members supporting hospital equipment and scholarships.
• ElluciancoreTechnology or Integration · 22 April 2026Ellucian provides its AI-powered SaaS platform (Ellucian Student powered by Colleague) to RLC for student information management. RLC won the 2026 Ellucian Impact Award for transforming manual state reporting processes, achieving 20-40% cost reductions and improved operational efficiency. This is a mutual partnership where both parties benefit from innovation in higher education technology.
• Continental AGcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 March 2026Three-year paid apprenticeship in Industrial Mechatronics and Maintenance Technology. Continental covers tuition and fees, provides three days per week on-the-job training at Continental while RLC provides two days per week classroom instruction at SIMA. Graduates earn AAS degree and federal Registered Apprenticeship certification.
• Brazil AgriShowminorOthers · 28 April 2025RLC's Blake Patton attended Brazil AgriShow, one of the world's largest agricultural technology trade shows, to introduce the Set-N-Seed invention to international agricultural technology vendors. Met with 25 companies, nearly 20 expressed interest.
• AGCO NextTECHcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAGCO partnership ensures skilled technicians for AGCO machinery through collaborative relationship between RLC, AGCO, and AGCO dealers. RLC provides training curriculum, faculty training, and access to AGCO training aids and electronic diagnostic tools. Students graduate as functional entry-level technicians.
• Case New Holland (CNH) Top Tech ProgrammajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCNH Top Tech School status provides students access to CNH Web Academy, industry-recognized credentials, and hands-on experience with warrantied parts. Faculty receive free training and access to Electronic Scan Tools. RLC eligible for two $50,000 performance-based grants annually.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Regional players

• Illinois Central College: Public community college in Peoria, Illinois, with similar associate degree and CTE offerings. Comparable in system affiliation and program breadth, but serves a more urbanized and larger district.
• Parkland College: Public community college in Champaign, Illinois, part of the same Illinois Community College System. Operates at larger scale and serves a more urban-adjacent district, but offers a comparable associate-degree and CTE catalog.
• Lincoln Land Community College: Public community college in Springfield, Illinois, offering associate degrees, transfer pathways, and workforce programs. Comparable Illinois Community College System peer, though operating in a more urbanized service area than RLC.

Direct peers

• John A. Logan College: Public two-year community college in Carterville, Illinois, serving a similar Southern Illinois footprint with associate degrees, transfer pathways, and CTE programs. It directly competes with RLC for the same regional student population and employer partnerships.
• Kaskaskia College: Public community college in Centralia, Illinois, offering two-year associate degrees, certificates, and workforce training across south-central Illinois. Comparable in size, program mix, and rural service area to RLC.
• Lake Land College: Public community college in Mattoon, Illinois, providing associate degrees and CTE programs to rural east-central Illinois. Multiple RLC management team members hold Lake Land degrees, indicating direct labor-market overlap.
• Southeastern Illinois College: Public community college in Harrisburg, Illinois, offering two-year degrees and certificates to the southeastern Illinois region. Directly comparable to RLC in size, mission, and rural service area.
• Shawnee Community College: Public community college in Ullin, Illinois, serving the southernmost Illinois counties with associate degrees and workforce development. Overlaps with RLC's service territory and competes for dual-credit and adult learner students.
• Wabash Valley College: Two-year campus of Illinois Eastern Community Colleges in Mt. Carmel, Illinois, offering associate degrees and CTE programs. Closely comparable rural community college model to RLC.

Broad incumbents

• Southern Illinois University Carbondale: Four-year public research university that is the primary transfer destination for RLC's Associate in Arts graduates. Not a direct competitor for enrollment but a critical articulation partner that competes for the same student pipeline.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@rendlakecollege
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/rend-lake-college
• Xx.com/RendLakeCollege
• Facebookfacebook.com/rendlakecollege

Compliance7 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles23 records

Subsidiaries1 record

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 Rend Lake College