College of Lake County vs. Harper

Comparable Facts

Compare College of Lake County in Grayslake, IL with William Rainey Harper College in Palatine, IL on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

William Rainey Harper College is larger than College of Lake County based on total student enrollment (13,988 students vs. 12,530 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• College of Lake County is located in Grayslake, IL (Midsize Suburban setting); William Rainey Harper College is in Palatine, IL (Large Suburban setting).
• College of Lake County is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. William Rainey Harper College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: College of Lake County 16:1; William Rainey Harper College 21:1.

College of Lake County vs. Harper Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, College of Lake County or Harper? 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 College of Lake County than Harper ($6,357 vs. $12,145).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at William Rainey Harper College are 15.2% lower than at College of Lake County ($14,251 vs. $16,800).
• College of Lake County is 8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Harper (about $807 more per year; $10,869.00 vs. $10,062.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 21.3% higher at College of Lake County than at William Rainey Harper College (about $2,526 more per year; $14,400.00 vs. $11,874.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at William Rainey Harper College than at College of Lake County (55% vs. 52%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by William Rainey Harper College students is 15.8% larger than aid received by College of Lake County students ($7,368 vs. $6,361).

College of Lake County vs. Harper Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, College of Lake County or Harper? 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 Harper and College of Lake County.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: College of Lake County - Open admission; Harper - Open admission.

College of Lake County vs. Harper Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for College of Lake County and Harper? 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 William Rainey Harper College earn a median of about $4,700 more per year than College of Lake County graduates about ten years after starting college ($40,500 vs. $35,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, College of Lake County graduates have a $4,500 lower median loan debt than Harper graduates ($5,500 vs. $10,000).
• Among borrowers, College of Lake County graduates have an estimated $47 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Harper graduates ($56 vs. $103).
• More College of Lake County graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Harper students, three years after graduation. (47% vs. 46%)

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.