City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College vs. Lake Land College

Comparable Facts

Compare City Colleges of Chicago Harold Washington College in Chicago, IL with Lake Land College in Mattoon, IL on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

City Colleges of Chicago Harold Washington College is larger than Lake Land College based on total student enrollment (6,121 students vs. 3,960 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• City Colleges of Chicago Harold Washington College is located in Chicago, IL (Large City setting); Lake Land College is in Mattoon, IL (Remote Town setting).
• City Colleges of Chicago Harold Washington College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Lake Land College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: City Colleges of Chicago Harold Washington College 20:1; Lake Land College 13:1.

City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College vs. Lake Land College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College or Lake Land 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 Lake Land College than City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College ($4,414 vs. $8,156).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Lake Land College are 26.2% lower than at City Colleges of Chicago Harold Washington College ($6,000 vs. $8,128).
• City Colleges of Chicago Harold Washington College is 44.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Lake Land College (about $3,748 more per year; $12,090.00 vs. $8,342.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 5.9% higher at City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College than at Lake Land College (about $849 more per year; $15,150.00 vs. $14,301.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Lake Land College than at City Colleges of Chicago Harold Washington College (80% vs. 79%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by City Colleges of Chicago Harold Washington College students is 14.5% larger than aid received by Lake Land College students ($6,431 vs. $5,615).

City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College vs. Lake Land College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College or Lake Land 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 Lake Land College and City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College - Open admission; Lake Land College - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: Lake Land College Sep 3, 2026.

City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College vs. Lake Land College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College and Lake Land 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 Lake Land College earn a median of about $2,300 more per year than City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College graduates about ten years after starting college ($31,600 vs. $29,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Lake Land College graduates have a $1,500 lower median loan debt than City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College graduates ($4,500 vs. $6,000).
• Among borrowers, Lake Land College graduates have an estimated $16 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College graduates ($46 vs. $62).
• More Lake Land College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College students, three years after graduation. (49% vs. 23%)

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.