COD vs. Highland Community College

Comparable Facts

Compare College of DuPage in Glen Ellyn, IL with Highland Community College in Freeport, IL on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

College of DuPage is larger than Highland Community College based on total student enrollment (26,224 students vs. 1,360 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• College of DuPage is located in Glen Ellyn, IL (Large Suburban setting); Highland Community College is in Freeport, IL (Distant Town setting).
• College of DuPage is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Highland Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: College of DuPage 22:1; Highland Community College 13:1.

COD vs. Highland Community College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, COD 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 Highland Community College than COD ($5,393 vs. $6,691).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Highland Community College are 60.5% lower than at College of DuPage ($5,950 vs. $15,072).
• College of DuPage is 47.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Highland Community College (about $3,434 more per year; $10,650.00 vs. $7,216.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 73.2% higher at COD than at Highland Community College (about $5,390 more per year; $12,750.00 vs. $7,360.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Highland Community College than at College of DuPage (73% vs. 50%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by College of DuPage students is 29.8% larger than aid received by Highland Community College students ($9,251 vs. $7,127).

COD vs. Highland Community College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, COD 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 COD.

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

COD vs. Highland Community College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for COD 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 College of DuPage earn a median of about $9,000 more per year than Highland Community College graduates about ten years after starting college ($39,400 vs. $30,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• More COD graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Highland Community College students, three years after graduation. (42% 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.