College of Lake County vs. Heartland Community College

Comparable Facts

Compare College of Lake County in Grayslake, IL with Heartland Community College in Normal, IL on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

College of Lake County is larger than Heartland Community College based on total student enrollment (12,530 students vs. 4,855 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• College of Lake County is located in Grayslake, IL (Midsize Suburban setting); Heartland Community College is in Normal, IL (Rural Fringe setting).
• College of Lake County is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Heartland Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: College of Lake County 16:1; Heartland Community College 18:1.

College of Lake County vs. Heartland Community College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, College of Lake County or Heartland 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 College of Lake County than Heartland Community College ($6,357 vs. $11,165).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Heartland Community College are 31.2% lower than at College of Lake County ($11,550 vs. $16,800).
• College of Lake County is 2.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Heartland Community College (about $279 more per year; $10,869.00 vs. $10,590.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 9.8% higher at College of Lake County than at Heartland Community College (about $1,290 more per year; $14,400.00 vs. $13,110.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Heartland Community College than at College of Lake County (67% vs. 52%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Heartland Community College students is 3.8% larger than aid received by College of Lake County students ($6,601 vs. $6,361).

College of Lake County vs. Heartland Community College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, College of Lake County or Heartland 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 Heartland Community College 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; Heartland Community College - Open admission.

College of Lake County vs. Heartland Community College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for College of Lake County and Heartland 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 Lake County earn a median of about $5,300 more per year than Heartland Community College graduates about ten years after starting college ($35,800 vs. $30,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, College of Lake County graduates have a $1,250 lower median loan debt than Heartland Community College graduates ($5,500 vs. $6,750).
• Among borrowers, College of Lake County graduates have an estimated $13 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Heartland Community College graduates ($56 vs. $69).
• More College of Lake County graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Heartland Community College students, three years after graduation. (47% 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.