Location: Ina, IL•In-State Tuition: $4,500•Out-of-State Tuition: $7,800
Est. Earnings (1yr)
$36,234
Est. from IL median (5 programs)
Est. Median Debt
$5,500
Est. from IL median (3 programs)

Analysis

With an estimated debt load of just $5,500—well below both state and national medians—Rend Lake's ground transportation certificate keeps costs remarkably low. Based on comparable Illinois programs, first-year earnings around $36,200 would give this a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.15, meaning graduates could theoretically pay off their loans in under two months of gross pay. That's a solid financial foundation for anyone entering the commercial driving or logistics field.

The earnings picture, however, deserves honest scrutiny. While $36,200 aligns with Illinois state medians for this credential, it trails the national median by about $5,000 and sits substantially below what top Illinois programs report. Elgin Community College and Lincoln Land Community College graduates earn $49,000-$52,000 in their first year—figures that suggest location, local industry connections, or training quality can make a significant difference in ground transportation outcomes. Similar programs across Illinois show a wide range, from under $25,000 to over $50,000.

For families primarily concerned about debt burden, this program offers one of the safer bets in vocational education. The risk isn't drowning in loans—it's whether the earning potential justifies the time investment when some peer programs produce substantially higher returns. If your student has strong reasons to stay local in southern Illinois, the minimal debt provides flexibility. But if relocation is possible, investigating what makes the higher-earning programs more successful could matter more than tuition savings.

Where Rend Lake College Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all ground transportation certificate's programs nationally

Rend Lake College (estimated ±10%)Other ground transportation programs

Dashed lines show national medians. Upper-left = best value.

Compare to Similar Programs in Illinois

Ground Transportation certificate's programs at peer institutions in Illinois (22 total in state)

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SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)*Earnings (4yr)Median Debt*Debt/Earnings
Rend Lake CollegeIna$4,500$36,234*—$5,500*—
Elgin Community CollegeElgin$3,180$51,945*$56,296$4,008*0.08
Lincoln Land Community CollegeSpringfield$3,672$49,142*$44,845$5,500*0.11
Midwest Technical Institute-IllinoisSpringfield—$36,234*$35,254$6,333*0.17
City Colleges of Chicago-Olive-Harvey CollegeChicago$4,380$24,356*$30,007$10,434*0.43
Shawnee Community CollegeUllin$4,650$24,036*——*—
National Median—$41,414*—$7,706*0.19
* Estimated from similar programs

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with ground transportation graduates

Locomotive Engineers

Drive electric, diesel-electric, steam, or gas-turbine-electric locomotives to transport passengers or freight. Interpret train orders, electronic or manual signals, and railroad rules and regulations.

$75,680/yrJobs growth:High school diploma or equivalent

Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers

Drive switching or other locomotive or dinkey engines within railroad yard, industrial plant, quarry, construction project, or similar location.

$75,680/yrJobs growth:High school diploma or equivalent

Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers

Operate or monitor railroad track switches or locomotive instruments. May couple or uncouple rolling stock to make up or break up trains. Watch for and relay traffic signals. May inspect couplings, air hoses, journal boxes, and hand brakes. May watch for dragging equipment or obstacles on rights-of-way.

$75,680/yrJobs growth:High school diploma or equivalent

Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters

Coordinate activities of switch-engine crew within railroad yard, industrial plant, or similar location. Conductors coordinate activities of train crew on passenger or freight trains. Yardmasters review train schedules and switching orders and coordinate activities of workers engaged in railroad traffic operations, such as the makeup or breakup of trains and yard switching.

$75,680/yrJobs growth:High school diploma or equivalent

Career/Technical Education Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach vocational courses intended to provide occupational training below the baccalaureate level in subjects such as construction, mechanics/repair, manufacturing, transportation, or cosmetology, primarily to students who have graduated from or left high school. Teaching takes place in public or private schools whose primary business is academic or vocational education.

$62,910/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators

Operate equipment used for applying concrete, asphalt, or other materials to road beds, parking lots, or airport runways and taxiways or for tamping gravel, dirt, or other materials. Includes concrete and asphalt paving machine operators, form tampers, tamping machine operators, and stone spreader operators.

$58,320/yrJobs growth:High school diploma or equivalent

Pile Driver Operators

Operate pile drivers mounted on skids, barges, crawler treads, or locomotive cranes to drive pilings for retaining walls, bulkheads, and foundations of structures such as buildings, bridges, and piers.

$58,320/yrJobs growth:High school diploma or equivalent

Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators

Operate one or several types of power construction equipment, such as motor graders, bulldozers, scrapers, compressors, pumps, derricks, shovels, tractors, or front-end loaders to excavate, move, and grade earth, erect structures, or pour concrete or other hard surface pavement. May repair and maintain equipment in addition to other duties.

$58,320/yrJobs growth:High school diploma or equivalent

Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers

Drive a tractor-trailer combination or a truck with a capacity of at least 26,001 pounds Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW). May be required to unload truck. Requires commercial drivers' license. Includes tow truck drivers.

$57,440/yrJobs growth:Postsecondary nondegree award

Logging Equipment Operators

Drive logging tractor or wheeled vehicle equipped with one or more accessories, such as bulldozer blade, frontal shear, grapple, logging arch, cable winches, hoisting rack, or crane boom, to fell tree; to skid, load, unload, or stack logs; or to pull stumps or clear brush. Includes operating stand-alone logging machines, such as log chippers.

$49,540/yrJobs growth:High school diploma or equivalent

Bus Drivers, School

Drive a school bus to transport students. Ensure adherence to safety rules. May assist students in boarding or exiting.

$48,370/yrJobs growth:High school diploma or equivalent

Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity

Drive bus or motor coach, including regular route operations, charters, and private carriage. May assist passengers with baggage. May collect fares or tickets.

$48,370/yrJobs growth:High school diploma or equivalent
About This Data

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)

Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At Rend Lake College, approximately 31% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.

Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.

Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.

Estimated Earnings: Actual earnings data is not available for this program (typically due to privacy thresholds when fewer than 30 graduates reported earnings). The estimate shown is based on the median of 5 similar programs in IL. Actual outcomes may vary.