Harper College graduates earn $ 650,000 more over the course of their careers than those who don’t attend college, according to a new report from the Illinois Community College Board (ICCB).

This was just one of the findings of the ICCB study of Illinois’ 48 community colleges, which account for $ 3.5 billion in economic output and more than 43,000 jobs.

The report is a tool for the nation’s third largest community college system as it continues to strive to increase value and access for all Illinoisans.

“Community colleges are powerful economic engines focused on equity and a smart investment for students and taxpayers,” said Avis Proctor, President of Harper College. “As a college in our community, Harper College improves the life and economic vitality of our region by providing high quality education, meeting current needs and preparing for the challenges and opportunities of tomorrow. We are agile solution providers and continue to work with employers to address critical labor shortages and build talent pools. “

The report’s earnings outlook for all of Harper’s students was uniformly strong:

• Over a 40-year career, the increased earnings for a degree earned total $ 651,984 (compared to someone not attending college), resulting in an annual internal rate of return of 26 , 8%;
• those with an associate of applied science or a long-term Harper certificate have a median annual salary of $ 56,382 a decade after completion;
• associates who transferred to a four-year institution had median annual earnings of $ 52,704 a decade after graduating from Harper; and
• the earnings of short-term degree holders varied by field, with median annual salaries ranging from $ 43,268 to $ 53,434 three years after completion. Programs with the highest incomes include HVAC maintenance, business operations support, and allied health professions.

The study also found high employment rates for graduates in well-paying career jobs, based on 2010-18 data:

• an average of 85.2% of Harper graduates who obtained an associate’s degree in applied science or a long-term certificate held career jobs within one year of graduation;
• 90.5% of all Harper graduates were employed in career jobs within a decade; and
• employment rates in career jobs remained high across all age groups and races, with the highest rates being among Latin American (90.4%) and African American (88, 2%).

The ICCB report also highlighted Harper’s partnerships with employers and his role as a driver of the local economy:

• in 2019, 1,475 employers were served by college credit or non-credit programs; and
• Harper’s total operations were associated with $ 214.7 million in economic output.

The ICCB report, last released in 2014, assesses the Illinois community college system on its ability to meet the needs of business and industry, equity, student outcomes, return on investment students and the overall economic impacts of the system on local economies and job growth. . The report also examines trends statewide, including changes in employment, population, race and ethnicity, and the COVID-19 pandemic.

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