ICC; True “Community” College

Al I. Cuizon Jr.

Sept 9, 2022

Illinois Central College (ICC) is the epitome of high-quality, prime-level education. In the eyes of many, it is one of the BEST community colleges in the Tri-County area. Education is the primary factor for any society to thrive and move forward. Whether it is a community college like ICC or a refined, prestigious four-year institution, learning new endeavors is the primary goal of any educational institution. 

ICC may not be Harvard University or Yale University or of Ivy League status in general, according to the U.S. News Catalog: Most Prestigious Schools in the United States, but ICC does have some perks. ICC’s tuition is the cheapest, with a start-up cost of about $2,500 per semester. ICC’s overall tuition for two years of community college is only $10,000-11,000 dollars, compared to the hefty price tag of Bradley University (BU), almost $50,000 per year. 

ICC even beats institutions like BU through their scholarships and tuition waivers. Some student testimonials from institutions such as BU have expressed that even with a “full-ride” scholarship, they would have to pay up to $5,000 to 10,000 dollars out of pocket. Student loans and college students are a controversial and not-so-palatable mix.

With such a low tuition cost, ICC can write off the entirety of tuition with waivers, scholarships, and financial aid grants giving you a proper full-ride education. ICC includes the benefit of participating in top-tier activities and extracurricular programs to best equip students for career success. The benefits of ICC are vast and continuing to grow, but without the support and overall influence of the community, ICC would not be at the place that it currently is.

Photography by Mitchell Price, Spring ‘21; Cosmo Cougar represents ICC’s fierce pride!