City Colleges of Chicago-Olive-Harvey College vs. Prairie State College

Comparable Facts

Compare City Colleges of Chicago Olive Harvey College in Chicago, IL with Prairie State College in Chicago Heights, IL on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

City Colleges of Chicago Olive Harvey College is larger than Prairie State College based on total student enrollment (3,137 students vs. 2,953 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• City Colleges of Chicago Olive Harvey College is located in Chicago, IL (Large City setting); Prairie State College is in Chicago Heights, IL (Large Suburban setting).
• City Colleges of Chicago Olive Harvey College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Prairie State College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: City Colleges of Chicago Olive Harvey College 26:1; Prairie State College 12:1.

City Colleges of Chicago-Olive-Harvey College vs. Prairie State College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, City Colleges of Chicago-Olive-Harvey 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 Prairie State College than City Colleges of Chicago-Olive-Harvey College ($5,317 vs. $9,209).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Prairie State College are 7.5% lower than at City Colleges of Chicago Olive Harvey College ($7,516 vs. $8,128).
• City Colleges of Chicago Olive Harvey College is 29.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Prairie State College (about $2,748 more per year; $12,090.00 vs. $9,342.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 36.9% higher at City Colleges of Chicago-Olive-Harvey College than at Prairie State College (about $4,086 more per year; $15,150.00 vs. $11,064.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at City Colleges of Chicago Olive Harvey College than at Prairie State College (79% vs. 68%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Prairie State College students is 30.2% larger than aid received by City Colleges of Chicago Olive Harvey College students ($8,470 vs. $6,505).

City Colleges of Chicago-Olive-Harvey College vs. Prairie State College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, City Colleges of Chicago-Olive-Harvey 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 City Colleges of Chicago-Olive-Harvey 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-Olive-Harvey College - Open admission; Prairie State College - Open admission.

City Colleges of Chicago-Olive-Harvey College vs. Prairie State College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for City Colleges of Chicago-Olive-Harvey 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 $5,000 more per year than City Colleges of Chicago-Olive-Harvey College graduates about ten years after starting college ($33,000 vs. $28,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, City Colleges of Chicago Olive Harvey College graduates have a $2,384 lower median loan debt than Prairie State College graduates ($7,848 vs. $10,232).
• Among borrowers, City Colleges of Chicago-Olive-Harvey College graduates have an estimated $24 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Prairie State College graduates ($81 vs. $105).
• More Prairie State College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former City Colleges of Chicago-Olive-Harvey College students, three years after graduation. (28% vs. 12%)

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.