General Information:
202 S. Halsted St.
Chicago Heights, IL 60411
Phone: (708) 709-3500
Web site: prairiestate.edu
Community College, Adult Education
Associate Degrees, Technical and Career Certificates, and Adult, Corporate, and Continuing Education
Prairie State College is located in Chicago Heights, Illinois, 30 miles south of Chicago.
Prairie State's College Mission Statement
Prairie State College is a richly diverse community college dedicated to student-centered instruction that fosters success in adult, transfer and workforce education.
Prairie State's College Diversity Statement
Prairie
State College recognizes the diversity of students, faculty, staff, and community as an integral part of lifelong learning. We are committed to building and maintaining an inclusive, accessible, and supportive environment on campus.
Prairie
State College embraces the diversity of individual beliefs and opinions, and supports diversity in religion, gender, ethnicity, race, sexual orientation, physical and mental ability, age, and socioeconomic status. The College will adhere to policies and procedures which discourage harassment and other behaviors that infringe upon the freedom and respect
every individual deserves.
Prairie
State College does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, age, gender, disability, ancestry, marital status, military discharge status, national origin, veteran status, sexual orientation, or other non-merit factors in educational programs, activities, or employment practices. Inquiries may be directed to the Affirmative Action Officer, Prairie State College.
Facts at a Glance
- Founded 1957
- PSC is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.
- PSC’s costs are significantly lower than both public and private colleges and universities in Illinois, saving students thousands on the cost of their education.
- PSC offers its students tools for success including free tutoring, up-to-date laboratories and smart-classrooms, academic advising, personal counseling, career development, and more.
- The college is a recipient of a United States Department of Education Predominantly Black Institution grant, which funds initiatives to increase the success of African American male students in college.
Colors:
Purple and
Green
Financial Aid Information
- More than 50 percent of our students receive financial aid.
- In addition to state and federal grants, the PSC Foundation provides a wealth of scholarship opportunities. Financial aid is available to assist students and their families in meeting the cost of a college education
- If you need help paying for fees, books, and other expenses, you should apply for financial aid.
Student Information:
Total Enrollment: 5.026
Ethnicity Demographics:
- 55 percent African American
- 9 percent Hispanic
- 32 percent Caucasian
- 4 percent other
- 64 percent female and 36 percent male
Student to Faculty Ratio: 20:1
Undergraduate Tuition and Fees for 2010-11:
Prairie State College offers both associate degrees that transfer to four-year colleges and universities and career and technical programs to begin a career immediately.
- Transfer Degrees
- Art/ Art History
- Art Education
- Astronomy
- Biological Sciences
- Business
- Chemistry
- Communication
- Criminal Justice
- Dentistry
- Earth Science/Physical Science
- Education: Teacher Education
- English/Literature
- Engineering
- History
- Humanities
- Manufacturing Technology
- Mass Communications
- Mathematics
- Medicine
- Music
- Photography
- Physics
- Political Science
- Psychology
- Sociology/ Social Work
- Spanish
- Career Programs
- Automotive
- Business
- Computer Aided Design
- Computer Electronics
- Criminal Justice
- Early Childhood Education
- Education - Paraprofessional
- Fire Science
- Fitness
- Graphic Communications
- Health Services
- Industrial Technology
- Information Technology
- Music Productions
- Personal Trainer/ Fitness
- Photography
Student Life Information
PSC offers a wide-variety of activities, clubs, and more. In addition, the college has a Multicultural Student Affairs Office that serves all students but has programs especially for African Americans, Hispanics, and other ethnic groups.
Clubs and activities include:
- All-Latin Alliance
- Black Student Union
- College Bowl
- Forensics (Speech) Team
- Literary Magazine
- Music Ensembles
- Student Newspaper
- The Protégé Program, a year-round initiative for African American males that cultivates academic progress through mentoring, college visits, cultural outings, and various workshops.
Arts Information
PSC has an art gallery, the Christopher Art Gallery, which features both student and community shows. Student shows include the Annual Graduate Exhibit and the Photographer of the Year. In addition, the college offers concerts by the PSC Vocal and Jazz Ensembles as well as an annual Jazz Fest.
Athletic Information
The college has state-of-the-art facilities for sports, staffed by experienced coaches and trainers who build on the athletes’ abilities while teamwork and commitment of excellence both on the field and in the classroom. PSC is the home of the Pioneers.
Sports include:
- Baseball - men
- Basketball - men and women
- Cheerleading - women
- Cross County - men and women
- Golf - men
- Soccer - men and women
- Softball - women
- Tennis - men and women
- Volleyball - women
Conference Information
- Conference: Illinois Skyway Collegiate Conference
Faculty Information
- PSC has highly qualified faculty. More than 95 percent hold a master’s or doctorate degrees. They are committed to working with students, and the average class size is 20
Disability Services Information
Prairie State College is committed to providing reasonable accommodations for enrolled or admitted students with documented disabilities, under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA).
The office seeks to maintain academic standards while providing equal access and support services to students who are able to benefit from college-level course work, have the commitment to succeed, and have a documented disability.
A variety of accommodations are available to students with disabilities. Special parking privileges and elevator service also are available. Students with disabilities who need accommodations can learn more by contacting the Director of Disability Services at (708) 709-3603. Early arrangements will enable PSC to provide comfortable and supportive classrooms from the first day of class.
Facility Information
The college’s 137 acre main campus has 13 buildings, including a main campus building, dedicated adult training and outreach center, a children’s learning center, and the Business and Community Education Center, a state-of-the-art conference center, a sports fieldhouse, and a building for health and technology programs.
Study Abroad Information
In association with the Illinois Consortium for International Studies and Programs (ICISP), Prairie State College is able to provide students with opportunities to study abroad and experience different cultures. ICISP is a consortium of 40 community colleges and small liberal arts colleges that offers a semester-long summer study abroad program several countries including Costa Rica. Note: Students do not have to be enrolled in Spanish to participate in the Study Abroad program.