UnisHub University Compass

Rend Lake College (RLC) : Overview, Courses, Scholarships & Rankings

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About Rend Lake College

Set near Rend Lake, the college blends quiet countryside with a get-it-done classroom vibe. It's known for solid transfer paths and hands-on career training, with instructors who keep things practical and personal. You'll find well-kept labs, a welcoming library, academic coaching, advising, and tech-friendly study spaces. And when life gets busy, student services step in with guidance that actually helps.

Student life skews friendly and low pressure, with clubs, arts nights, and plenty of casual rec. The lake nearby means trails, paddling, and laid back weekends, plus a fitness center back on campus. The culture feels come-as-you-are, serving commuters, first gen students, and career changers. Career prep leans practical, from employer visits and job fairs to internships and local connections. Small town perks and community ties make it easy to plug in.

Key Institutional Details

Contact & Profile

Location
468 N Ken Gray Pkwy, Ina, Illinois, 62846, USA
Website
rlc.edu
Unit ID
148256

Academic & Institutional

Control
Public institution (funded by state or local government)
Accreditation
HLC
Length of Study
Programs of 2 to less than 4 years (e.g. associate degree)
Calendar System
Semester system (two main terms per year)
Award Levels
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Residency
Other Award
Campus Setting
Located in a distant rural area (5-25 miles from urban area)
Carnegie Classification
Associate's - Mixed Transfer/Career, Nontraditional
Tuition & Fees
In-State
$7,800
Tuition $6,600 + Fee $1,200
Out-of-State
$7,800
Tuition $6,600 + Fee $1,200
Student Profile
Total Students 1,871
Undergraduate 1,196
Graduate/Other 675
Male: 744 Female: 1,127
Applications
Total Applicants N/A
Admitted N/A
Enrolled N/A
Staff
Total Staff 305
Full-time 172
Part-time 133
Full-time: 56.4% Part-time: 43.6%

Academic Programs & Fields of Study

Rend Lake College (RLC) offers 45 degree programs across 15 major academic fields, graduating approximately 1,214 students annually. The most popular fields by graduate volume are Liberal Arts (1 programs, 314 graduates), Health (9 programs, 240 graduates), Mechanics (5 programs, 161 graduates), Interdisciplinary (1 programs, 108 graduates) and Agriculture (5 programs, 80 graduates). Explore program details, award levels, and graduate demographics below.

Liberal Arts (1 programs, 314 graduates)
Liberal Arts Education, General Studies and Humanities
Program Name Graduates Gender Distribution Award Levels CIP Code
Liberal Arts and Sciences 314
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
24.0101
Health (9 programs, 240 graduates)
Healthcare Professions, Medical Sciences and Clinical Practice
Program Name Graduates Gender Distribution Award Levels CIP Code
Nursing and Patient Care Assistant 99
Residency
51.3902
Registered Nursing 49
Associate's
51.3801
Licensed Practical Nursing 27
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
51.3901
Medical Radiologic Technology 22
Associate's
Other Award
51.0907
Emergency Medical Technology 13
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Other Award
51.0904
Medical Insurance Coding 9
Other Award
51.0713
Phlebotomy Technician 9
Other Award
51.1009
Medical Assistant 8
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
51.0801
Home Health Aide and Attendant 4
Other Award
51.2602
Mechanics (5 programs, 161 graduates)
Automotive Technology, Equipment Repair and Maintenance
Program Name Graduates Gender Distribution Award Levels CIP Code
Industrial Mechanics and Maintenance Technology 58
Associate's
Other Award
47.0303
Heavy Equipment Maintenance Technology 30
Associate's
Other Award
47.0302
Automotive Mechanics Technology 28
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Residency
Other Award
47.0604
Industrial Electronics Technology 24
Other Award
47.0105
Diesel Mechanics Technology 21
Other Award
47.0605
Interdisciplinary (1 programs, 108 graduates)
Cross-Disciplinary Studies and Integrated Research Programs
Program Name Graduates Gender Distribution Award Levels CIP Code
Biological and Physical Sciences 108
Associate's
30.0101
Agriculture (5 programs, 80 graduates)
Agricultural Sciences, Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine
Program Name Graduates Gender Distribution Award Levels CIP Code
Agricultural Mechanization 38
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
01.0201
Agricultural Machinery Technology 20
Associate's
01.0205
Agricultural Business and Management 9
Associate's
01.0101
Agricultural Production Operations 8
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
01.0301
Veterinary Technology and Animal Health Assistant 5
Other Award
01.8301
Transportation (1 programs, 55 graduates)
Logistics Management, Supply Chain and Transportation Systems
Program Name Graduates Gender Distribution Award Levels CIP Code
Truck and Bus Driver and Instructor 55
Residency
49.0205
Personal Services (6 programs, 46 graduates)
Hospitality Management, Culinary Arts and Personal Care
Program Name Graduates Gender Distribution Award Levels CIP Code
Culinary Arts and Chef Training 15
Associate's
Other Award
12.0503
Aesthetician and Skin Care Specialist 12
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
12.0409
Cosmetology 11
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
12.0401
Barbering 4
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
12.0402
Nail Technology and Manicuring 2
Other Award
12.0410
Baking and Pastry Arts 2
Other Award
12.0501
Human Sciences (1 programs, 46 graduates)
Family Studies, Consumer Sciences and Human Development
Program Name Graduates Gender Distribution Award Levels CIP Code
Child Care Provider and Assistant 46
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Residency
Other Award
19.0709
Business (2 programs, 44 graduates)
Business Administration, Marketing and Entrepreneurship
Program Name Graduates Gender Distribution Award Levels CIP Code
Business Administration 40
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
52.0101
Administrative Assistant Science 4
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Other Award
52.0401
Production (1 programs, 37 graduates)
Manufacturing Technology, Quality Control and Industrial Arts
Program Name Graduates Gender Distribution Award Levels CIP Code
Welding Technology 37
Associate's
Other Award
48.0508

Tuition, Fees & Estimated Costs

Overview of tuition rates, housing, and other annual education expenses for undergraduate and graduate students

Estimated Total Cost
(In-state)
$8,200
Estimated Total Cost
(Out-state)
$8,200
In-state Tuition (incl. fees)
$7,800
Tuition and fees for students residing in-state
Out-of-state Tuition (incl. fees)
$7,800
Tuition and fees for non-resident students
Room & Board
$11,124 (off-campus)
Housing and meal plan expenses
Books & Supplies
$400
Average yearly cost of books and study materials
Other Expenses
$6,869 (off-campus)
Miscellaneous personal and institutional expenses
Other Expenses (with family)
$6,869
Estimated cost for students living with family
Graduate In-state Tuition (incl. fees)
N/A
Graduate tuition rates for in-state students
Graduate Out-of-state Tuition (incl. fees)
N/A
Graduate tuition rates for non-resident students

Financial Aid & Student Support

Summary of scholarships, grants, student loans, and financial aid statistics for undergraduate students

20%
FTFT Aid Recipients
Avg. Grant
$5,923
Avg. Loan
$6,211
Avg. Federal Loan
N/A
Additional
Students with Any Grant
312
Students who received any type of grant aid
Students with Any Loan
11
Students who received any type of loan-based aid
Students with Federal Grant
178
Students who received a federal grant
Avg. Institutional Grant
$2,446
Average amount of institutional grant awarded

Student Success Metrics

Graduation rates and post-graduation earnings to help assess student outcomes and long-term value of education.

N/A
Graduation Rate
Percentage of students who successfully graduate from the institution
N/A
First-Year Retention Rate
Percentage of first-year students who continue for a second year
Median Earnings Over Time
$18,022 – $54,603
Salary Range (25th–75th Percentile, 10 Years)
$18,022 (25th %) $54,603 (75th %)
*Median Salary After 10 Years: $35,775
Median Salary After 6 Years
$29,814
Average annual earnings of former students six years after starting college.
Median Salary After 10 Years
$35,775
Average annual earnings of former students ten years after starting college.

Loan Burden & Repayment Outcomes

Breakdown of loan repayment rates and student debt levels by income and dependency status.

3-Year Loan Repayment Rate
41.4%
Share of borrowers who repaid loans within 3 years
Repayment Rate (Graduates Only)
59.9%
Repayment rate among students who completed their program
Median Student Loan Debt
$5,809
Median federal loan debt of undergraduate completers at time of graduation.
Repayment by Income
Low 30.1%
Middle 57.9%
High 60.9%
Repayment by Dependency
Dependent 53.1%
Independent 31.2%

Frequently Asked Questions

Find answers to the most common questions about Rend Lake College (RLC)

How much does it cost to attend Rend Lake College (RLC)?

The annual tuition at Rend Lake College (RLC) is $7,800 for in-state students. When including room and board, books, and other expenses, the total estimated cost is approximately $8,200 for in-state students. Additional costs include room and board $11,124 (off-campus) and books and supplies $400.

Data based on IPEDS program completions for 2022-2023 academic year. Tuition and cost estimates are approximate and may not include all fees, personal expenses, or transportation costs.

What academic programs and degree levels does Rend Lake College offer?

Rend Lake College (RLC) offers 45 academic programs across 15 major fields of study, with available degree levels: Certificate (1-2 yrs), Associate's, Residency, Other Award.

Most popular program areas include:

  • Liberal Arts Education, General Studies and Humanities (1 programs)
  • Healthcare Professions, Medical Sciences and Clinical Practice (9 programs)
  • Automotive Technology, Equipment Repair and Maintenance (5 programs)
  • Cross-Disciplinary Studies and Integrated Research Programs (1 programs)
  • Agricultural Sciences, Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine (5 programs)

Data based on IPEDS program completions for 2023-2024 academic year. Numbers reflect programs where students graduated, not all offered programs.

What financial aid and scholarships are available at Rend Lake College?

Rend Lake College (RLC) provides financial aid to 20% of first-time, full-time students, with average grants of $5,923 and average loans of $6,211.

Average financial aid amounts by type:

  • Pell grants: $5,035
  • State/Local grants: $2,472
  • Institutional grants: $2,446

The university supports 312 students with grants and 11 students with loans annually.

Data based on IPEDS for 2022-2023 academic year. Financial aid amounts and percentages may vary by program, enrollment status, and individual circumstances.

What is the average salary for Rend Lake College graduates?

Rend Lake College (RLC) graduates earn a median salary of $29,814 after 6 years and $35,775 after 10 years.

The salary range 10 years after graduation spans from $18,022 (25th percentile) to $54,603 (75th percentile), with top earners reaching $60,900 (90th percentile).

Data based on IPEDS for 2022-2023 academic year. Salary data reflects graduates who received federal financial aid (approximately 60% of all graduates). Actual earnings may vary significantly based on program, location, and individual circumstances.

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