College of Lake County — ROI, Cost & Payback
College of Lake County charges a net price of $7,607/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $30,428. Median earnings ten years after entry are $43,424, below the $48,360 high-school baseline, so on this institution-wide metric the degree does not clear its cost. Program choice is what changes that. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
On institution-wide earnings, College of Lake County does not clear its cost — it ranks #60 of 116 Illinois colleges we track by ROI. The specific program you pick moves this more than the school average.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $7,607/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $30,428 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $43,424 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | -$4,936/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $8,735 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | does not clear | our math |
| 20-year net return | -$129,148 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on College of Lake County's own numbers. Net price $7,607 × 4 years = $30,428 total. Median earnings $43,424 fall $4,936 short of the $48,360 high-school baseline, so the premium this formula divides by is not positive and no break-even year exists on institution-wide pay. A programme here earning $58,360 would clear the $30,428 bill in about 3.0 years — the gap, not the price, is what blocks payback. Full method.
How much debt do College of Lake County students graduate with?
A median $8,735 in federal loans among completers, or 20% of the $43,424 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of College of Lake County students graduate?
37% finish their degree — 63% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $30,428 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $82,238 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is College of Lake County expensive compared with other Illinois colleges?
Its $7,607 net price runs $6,143 below the $13,750 median across the 116 Illinois colleges we profile, and $24,572 less across the full degree.