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Southwestern Illinois College

Belleville, Illinois · Public community college

CNA classesWelding schoolsEMT & paramedic trainingAviation maintenance (A&P) schoolsElectrician schoolsHVAC schoolsCNC & machining programsLPN / LVN programsMedical assistant programsRadiology & sonography programsMedical billing & coding programsPhlebotomy classesMassage therapy schoolsCulinary & pastry schoolsPharmacy technician programsConstruction trades programs
37%completion rate · Illinois avg 58%
$6,908median debt of graduates
$30,872median earnings, 6 yrs after entry
$36,884median earnings, 10 yrs after entry
not reportedannual cost of attendance
Yesfederal aid (FAFSA / Pell) eligible
Accreditation: Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing | American Physical Therapy Association, Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Edu | Higher Learning Commission | Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (Accredited)
Address: 2500 Carlyle Ave, Belleville, IL 62221 · Phone: (618) 235-2700 · School website ↗ · Verify on College Scorecard ↗
Accountability record (federal accreditation database, last 36 months; Department of Education oversight)
No accreditor sanctions in the last 36 months
Sanctions are probation, warning, show-cause and loss-of-accreditation actions by any recognized accreditor, including program-specific accreditors (a nursing-program probation counts for the campus). Routine monitoring reviews and voluntary withdrawals are not counted. Ask the school what the action concerned and how it was resolved.

Southwestern Illinois College is a public trade and career school in Belleville, IL offering CNA classes, welding, and EMT training, accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

Southwestern Illinois College has a 36.5% completion rate, below the state average of 58.4%, with median graduate debt of $6,908 and median earnings of $36,884 ten years after entry, per the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.

Annual cost of attendance is not reported in federal data for Southwestern Illinois College; contact the school for current tuition. Federal financial aid, including FAFSA and Pell Grants, can be used here, and about 24.7% of students receive Pell Grants.

Completion rate vs. benchmarks
Southwestern Illinois… Southwestern Illinois…: 36.5% 36.5% Illinois average Illinois average: 58.4% 58.4% National average National average: 62.1% 62.1%

What these trades pay once you're working

OccupationStarting (10th pct)MedianExperienced (75th)
Nursing assistants$37,590$45,960$48,380
Welders, cutters, solderers and brazers$38,890$51,320$61,520
Emergency medical technicians$36,420$42,260$49,640
Aircraft mechanics and service technicians$46,460$81,680$126,500
Electricians$49,240$99,560$117,460
HVAC and refrigeration mechanics and installers$46,690$77,410$96,030
Machinists$38,390$58,520$65,620
Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses$58,880$75,000$79,560
Medical assistants$36,400$46,090$49,460
Radiologic technologists and technicians$59,350$79,930$97,950
Medical records specialists$38,890$56,440$64,360
Phlebotomists$37,370$46,010$49,720
Massage therapists$33,770$60,490$77,550
Chefs and head cooks$40,330$58,830$73,620
Pharmacy technicians$36,550$46,650$49,150
Construction laborers$38,880$60,690$95,240

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wages for everyone employed in the occupation in Illinois (May 2025; national where the state figure is not published). The program table below shows what this campus's own graduates earned in their first year, whatever job they took.

Trade programs at this campus

ProgramCredentialGrads / yrEarnings, yr 1Earnings, yr 2Median debt
Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants Certificate, under 300 hours 232 $15,947 $19,144 $3,500
Precision Metal Working Certificate, 300–899 hours 135 not reported $21,964 $5,500
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions Certificate, under 300 hours 52 not reported not reported not reported
Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants Certificate, 1–2 years 38 $15,947 $19,144 $3,500
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions Associate degree 31 $44,584 $43,087 $8,550
Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician (HAC, HACR, HVAC, HVACR) Certificate, 1–2 years 31 not reported $32,321 not reported
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians Associate degree 29 not reported not reported not reported
Electrical and Power Transmission Installers Certificate, 1–2 years 25 not reported not reported not reported
Precision Metal Working Certificate, under 300 hours 24 not reported $21,964 $5,500
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians Certificate, 1–2 years 21 not reported not reported not reported
Electrical and Power Transmission Installers Associate degree 17 $56,142 not reported not reported
Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions Certificate, under 300 hours 16 not reported not reported not reported
Precision Metal Working Certificate, 1–2 years 15 not reported $21,964 $5,500
Somatic Bodywork and Related Therapeutic Services Certificate, 300–899 hours 15 not reported not reported not reported
Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services Certificate, 300–899 hours 13 not reported not reported not reported
Precision Metal Working Associate degree 13 $39,135 $30,554 not reported
Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services Certificate, 1–2 years 12 not reported not reported not reported
Health and Medical Administrative Services Associate degree 12 not reported $33,993 not reported
Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services Associate degree 11 $26,669 $26,353 not reported
Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician (HAC, HACR, HVAC, HVACR) Associate degree 11 $37,204 $32,711 not reported
Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services Associate degree 10 $26,669 $26,353 not reported
Precision Metal Working Associate degree 9 $39,135 $30,554 not reported
Health and Medical Administrative Services Associate degree 8 not reported $33,993 not reported
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions Associate degree 5 $44,584 $43,087 $8,550
Building/Construction Finishing, Management, and Inspection Certificate, 300–899 hours 5 not reported not reported not reported
Precision Metal Working Certificate, 1–2 years 5 not reported $21,964 $5,500
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians Certificate, 1–2 years 5 not reported not reported not reported
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions Certificate, 1–2 years 4 not reported not reported not reported
Building/Construction Finishing, Management, and Inspection Certificate, 300–899 hours 4 not reported not reported not reported
Culinary Arts and Related Services Certificate, 1–2 years 4 not reported not reported not reported
Culinary Arts and Related Services Associate degree 4 not reported $21,508 not reported
Culinary Arts and Related Services Certificate, 1–2 years 3 not reported not reported not reported
Culinary Arts and Related Services Associate degree 2 not reported $21,508 not reported
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions Certificate, under 300 hours 1 not reported not reported not reported
Culinary Arts and Related Services Certificate, 300–899 hours 1 not reported not reported not reported
Culinary Arts and Related Services Certificate, 1–2 years 1 not reported not reported not reported
Electrical and Power Transmission Installers Certificate, 300–899 hours 1 not reported not reported not reported

Earnings are median wages and self-employment income reported to the IRS (W-2 and Schedule SE) for graduates who received federal aid and were working and not enrolled, measured in the calendar year after finishing. They are pay only: health insurance, retirement contributions and other benefits are not included.

Graduates per year from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) 2022-23 Completions survey. Earnings and debt are College Scorecard field-of-study medians for graduates of this program at this campus (reported at the 4-digit program level, so closely related programs share a figure); "not reported" means too few graduates were counted to publish a figure.

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About this school

Southwestern Illinois College is a public trade and career-training campus located in Belleville, IL, a large suburb. The school participates in federal Title IV financial aid, so students may use FAFSA and Pell Grants to help pay for programs. It holds accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission along with program-specific accreditors including the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing, the American Physical Therapy Association's Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education, and the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology. Among its 37 program offerings across fields such as CNA classes, welding, EMT training, aviation mechanics, electrician training, HVAC, CNC machining, and more, the most-awarded programs are CNA classes (232 completers), welding (159), and EMT & paramedic training (61).

Looking at outcomes data, the campus completion rate is 36.5%, below the state average of 58.4%. Median debt among graduates is $6,908, and median earnings 10 years after entry are $36,884. About 24.7% of students receive Pell Grants. Annual cost of attendance is not reported for this campus in federal data.

With a large undergraduate enrollment of 5,675 and 825 trade program completers, this campus offers a mix of short certificate programs and longer credentialed tracks across health, skilled trades, and technical fields, which may suit both new students and adult career-changers, though specific program lengths are not detailed here. Prospective students should verify current accreditation status and review full outcome data directly through the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard, and contact the school directly for tuition and enrollment details.

Questions students ask

What trade and career programs does this campus offer?

Southwestern Illinois College offers 37 programs across fields including CNA classes, welding, EMT training, aviation mechanics, electrician training, HVAC, CNC machining, and more. The top programs by completions are CNA classes (232), welding (159), and EMT & paramedic training (61).

Is this school accredited, and by whom?

Yes, the school is accredited. It holds accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission, as well as program-specific accreditation from the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing, the American Physical Therapy Association's Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education, and the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology.

Can I use federal financial aid (FAFSA, Pell Grants) at this school?

Yes, this school participates in Title IV federal financial aid programs, so students can use FAFSA and Pell Grants. About 24.7% of students at this campus receive Pell Grants.

What share of students finish their program here, and how does that compare to the state?

The completion rate at this campus is 36.5%, which is below the state average of 58.4%, per federal data.

How much debt do graduates of this school typically carry?

Median debt among graduates of this campus is $6,908, according to federal data.

What do graduates of this school earn?

Median earnings for graduates 10 years after entry are $36,884, per the College Scorecard.

How much does it cost to attend for a year?

Annual cost of attendance is not reported for this campus in federal data. Contact the school directly at (618) 235-2700 or visit https://www.swic.edu/ for current tuition figures.

Is this a public, non-profit, or for-profit school, and why does that matter?

Southwestern Illinois College is a public institution, which often means lower tuition for in-state residents compared to private for-profit schools, though specific costs are not reported here.

How long do the programs here take to complete?

Program length is not reported for this campus in federal data. Contact the school directly to ask about the duration of specific programs like CNA, welding, or EMT training.

How do I verify this school's accreditation and outcomes myself?

You can verify accreditation through the Higher Learning Commission and the program-specific accreditors listed, and review federal outcome data directly at the College Scorecard: https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/school/?143215.

Is this school a good fit for an adult changing careers?

The campus offers a range of certificate and technical programs in fields like healthcare, welding, and emergency medical services, which may appeal to career-changers, though specific program lengths and schedules are not reported here. Contact the school to discuss fit for your situation.

How do I contact the school or apply?

You can reach Southwestern Illinois College at (618) 235-2700 or visit their website at https://www.swic.edu/ for application information.

How does this campus compare with other schools offering the same trade nearby?

Comparative data against other nearby schools is not reported in this dataset. You can use the College Scorecard link (https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/school/?143215) to compare completion rates, costs, and earnings across schools.

Data: Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) 2022-23 Completions survey; College Scorecard June 2026; Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs (DAPIP), September 2026. Figures are the U.S. Department of Education's official measures, not Career Training Path's opinion. Tuition, schedules and program availability change — confirm with the school before enrolling.

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