Black Hawk College vs. Prairie State College

Comparable Facts

Compare Black Hawk College in Moline, IL with Prairie State College in Chicago Heights, IL on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Black Hawk College is larger than Prairie State College based on total student enrollment (4,001 students vs. 2,953 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Black Hawk College is located in Moline, IL (Small City setting); Prairie State College is in Chicago Heights, IL (Large Suburban setting).
• Black Hawk College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Prairie State College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Black Hawk College 18:1; Prairie State College 12:1.

Black Hawk College vs. Prairie State College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Black Hawk College or Prairie State College? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Black Hawk College than Prairie State College ($5,069 vs. $5,317).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Prairie State College are 3.6% lower than at Black Hawk College ($7,516 vs. $7,796).
• Prairie State College is 17.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Black Hawk College (about $1,392 more per year; $9,342.00 vs. $7,950.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 36.6% higher at Prairie State College than at Black Hawk College (about $2,964 more per year; $11,064.00 vs. $8,100.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Black Hawk College than at Prairie State College (75% vs. 68%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Prairie State College students is 23.6% larger than aid received by Black Hawk College students ($8,470 vs. $6,850).

Black Hawk College vs. Prairie State College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Black Hawk College or Prairie State College? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Prairie State College and Black Hawk College.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Black Hawk College - Open admission; Prairie State College - Open admission.

Black Hawk College vs. Prairie State College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Black Hawk College and Prairie State College? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• Graduates from Prairie State College earn a median of about $1,000 more per year than Black Hawk College graduates about ten years after starting college ($33,000 vs. $32,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Black Hawk College graduates have a $3,523 lower median loan debt than Prairie State College graduates ($6,709 vs. $10,232).
• Among borrowers, Black Hawk College graduates have an estimated $36 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Prairie State College graduates ($69 vs. $105).
• More Black Hawk College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Prairie State College students, three years after graduation. (54% vs. 28%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.