William Rainey Harper College is a public community college located in Palatine, Illinois, established by referendum in 1965 and opened in September 1967. Named in honor of Dr. William Rainey Harper, a pioneer of the junior college movement and the first president of the University of Chicago, Harper College is one of the largest and most respected community colleges in the nation, serving approximately 26,000 students annually in Chicago's northwest suburbs. The college offers more than 200 programs of study including associate degrees, certificates, and continuing education in business, healthcare, technology, liberal arts, and workforce development. Harper's Hawks athletics program competes in the Illinois Skyway Collegiate Conference as a member of NJCAA Division II. The college operates a state-of-the-art campus in Palatine featuring advanced STEM facilities, a performing arts center, a fitness center, and a library. Harper College is consistently recognized as a top community college for student success and career outcomes, with strong transfer partnerships to four-year universities and deep connections to regional employers in the greater Chicago metropolitan area.
Visa, OPT, H-1B alumni outcomes, and acceptance rates by country — sourced from FOIA, USCIS H-1B Hub, and DHS SEVIS.
The deep admissions playbook beyond the headline acceptance rate — round-by-round breakdowns, nationality data, requirements, and contact paths.
Domestic
—
/yr
Out-of-State / Intl
$$11,076
/yr
Beyond the sticker price — every named scholarship, the financial aid policy, need-aware notes, and a personalized net-cost estimate.
How life on campus actually feels — clubs, sports, traditions, housing realities, and how the school integrates with its city.
Where alumni go after graduation — top industries, grad-school continuation, and the qualitative outcomes story.
Sticker price (annual, out-of-state): $11,874
Net-cost estimate is US-resident-only — international applicants are typically excluded from need-based aid at most schools and should treat the sticker price as the planning baseline.
