Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities at Rend Lake College

Rend Lake College's general studies associate's degree comes with one of the lowest debt loads you'll find anywhere—just $5,500 at graduation, placing it in the 5th percentile nationally for debt. That's half the state average and less than what many students pay for a single semester at a four-year university. If your goal is affordable access to higher education, this program delivers on that promise.

The tradeoff shows up in the earnings data. Starting at $25,219, graduates earn about $2,300 less than the Illinois median for this degree, placing the program in the 40th percentile statewide. That gap matters when comparing to top Illinois community colleges like Prairie State or Lincoln Land, where general studies graduates earn around $34,000. However, earnings do grow 18% by year four to nearly $30,000, and with such minimal debt, graduates aren't burdened by loan payments that can eat into already-modest paychecks.

For families prioritizing affordability—particularly the 31% of students here receiving Pell grants—this represents a viable entry point to higher education. The low debt means financial flexibility to either enter the workforce or transfer to complete a bachelor's degree without significant loan burden. Just recognize that many Illinois community colleges deliver both low debt and stronger earnings outcomes for this same credential.