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About this university

As a vocational (community/transfer) institution, Parkland College aims to engage the surrounding community in the learning experience it provides to students. It has provided over 300,000 students with practical, hands-on experience since being established in 1967 and continues to support a diverse student body.

Parkland prides itself on offering professional teaching, delivered by experienced and highly qualified instructors. Students are exposed to modern teaching concepts, whilst small class sizes provide a personalized feel to all courses offered.

The facilities provided at Parkland give students the right setting to practice the skills they are taught and ensure they leave prepared for the workforce or for transferring to a four-year institution following graduation. This is reflected by a huge 91 percent of students being in employment after graduation, with 86 percent of those in a job related to their degree.

The college’s facilities give students an excellent environment for learning, ranging from an educational TV station to an experimental agricultural land laboratory. A cultural center, which includes an art gallery, 320-seat performing arts theatre and the second largest planetarium in Illinois, is also located at the college.

Each year, roughly 7,000 students enroll at Parkland, with students ranging in age from 16 to 86, with a growing international population as the institution strives to serve people in a dynamic way.

As a result of its Center for Academic Success (CAS), Parkland has been highly-commended and has received various awards. It offers a vast array of services to students and access to excellent staff who provide out-of-classroom assistance. This support helps students prepare for assessments, coursework deadlines and effective study to make the most of their time at Parkland.

Study abroad

College credits are available to Parkland students whilst studying abroad, giving students a chance to cultivate a world view that can be a major boost in today’s international society.

Students studying abroad will enjoy a life-changing experience gaining independence and self-confidence whilst adding experience which looks great on a CV/Resume. Program opportunities are available in various places, including:

• Salzburg, Austria
• Chongqing, China
• San José, Costa Rica
• Canterbury, England
• Dijon, France
• Carlow, Ireland
• Tuscania, Italy
• Toyko, Kyoto, Hiroshima and Osaka, Japan
• Seville, Spain

Choosing a program

Full semester and summer opportunities are available for study abroad, but students must consider:

• When and how much time they can commit
• Personal interest/cultural affinity with the destination
• Courses they may need for their academic studies
• Cost of the study abroad program

Students should ideally select their destination and contact the study abroad coordinator twelve months before the chosen program begins.

What’s new

Covid-19 Information

Parkland College works closely with local and state public health agencies and follows regular updates from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to address the risk on campus and to the community from the Covid-19 pandemic. Parkland College seeks to balance preparedness with caution by taking measures that help reduce Covid-19 transmission and spread among students, faculty, and staff. There is information available to students that can be viewed on the college website.

New International Student Services Advisor

Parkland College recently welcomed a new staff member to International Admission at the institution. LeeAnn Jones was excited to join Parkland College as the International Student Services Advisor. She has over five years of experience working with international college students in both teaching and advising. She is happy to assist students with any questions they have about being an international student at Parkland. As a native to Illinois, she knows the area well and can recommend some great places to visit all over the state. She also lived in Washington, D.C. for a few years so students should be sure to ask her about her experiences.