Carl Sandburg College vs. Highland Community College

Comparable Facts

Compare Carl Sandburg College in Galesburg, IL with Highland Community College in Freeport, IL on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Carl Sandburg College is larger than Highland Community College based on total student enrollment (1,603 students vs. 1,360 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Carl Sandburg College is located in Galesburg, IL (Rural Fringe setting); Highland Community College is in Freeport, IL (Distant Town setting).
• Carl Sandburg College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Highland Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Carl Sandburg College 15:1; Highland Community College 13:1.

Carl Sandburg College vs. Highland Community College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Carl Sandburg College or Highland Community 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 Carl Sandburg College than Highland Community College ($5,374 vs. $5,393).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Highland Community College are 24.4% lower than at Carl Sandburg College ($5,950 vs. $7,875).
• Carl Sandburg College is 10.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Highland Community College (about $784 more per year; $8,000.00 vs. $7,216.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 20.9% higher at Carl Sandburg College than at Highland Community College (about $1,540 more per year; $8,900.00 vs. $7,360.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Carl Sandburg College than at Highland Community College (94% vs. 73%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Carl Sandburg College students is 16.4% larger than aid received by Highland Community College students ($8,296 vs. $7,127).

Carl Sandburg College vs. Highland Community College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Carl Sandburg College or Highland Community 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 Highland Community College and Carl Sandburg College.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Carl Sandburg College - Open admission; Highland Community College - Open admission.

Carl Sandburg College vs. Highland Community College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Carl Sandburg College and Highland Community 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 Highland Community College earn a median of about $100 more per year than Carl Sandburg College graduates about ten years after starting college ($30,400 vs. $30,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Carl Sandburg College graduates have a $3,056 lower median loan debt than Highland Community College graduates ($4,444 vs. $7,500).
• Among borrowers, Carl Sandburg College graduates have an estimated $32 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Highland Community College graduates ($45 vs. $77).
• More Carl Sandburg College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Highland Community College students, three years after graduation. (56% vs. 41%)

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.