1967
Palatine, IL

School Details

William Rainey Harper College (known simply as Harper College) is a public, 2-year community college in Palatine, Illinois. Founded in 1967, the school was named after the founder of the school who was also the University of Chicago’s first president. In 1973, the William Rainey Harper Educational Foundation was established through private donations in order to enhance the school’s programs, offering scholarships and special project initiatives. One such initiative was the completion of the Palatine campus between 1975 and 1977. By 2004, Harper College was one of the largest community colleges in the nation. The core values at Harper College are integrity, respect, excellence, and collaboration, and the school’s mission statement is as follows: “Harper College is a comprehensive community college dedicated to providing excellent education at an affordable cost, promoting personal growth, enriching the local community and meeting the challenges of a global society.”

Harper College offers associate’s degrees, technical certifications, 2-year bachelor’s degree preparation courses, online courses, and college credit for high school students. Harper Online provides opportunities for students to earn certificates and degrees online. Online degrees offer flexible scheduling, allowing students to decide the time and location that works best for studying.

Accreditation & Licensing

Harper College is accredited by:

Higher Learning Commission (HLC)

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