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 350,000 students with practical, hands-on experience since being established in 1966 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 College 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 offer 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 Learning Commons, Parkland College 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.