College of Lake County vs. Prairie State College

Comparable Facts

Compare College of Lake County in Grayslake, IL with Prairie State College in Chicago Heights, IL on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

College of Lake County is larger than Prairie State College based on total student enrollment (12,530 students vs. 2,953 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• College of Lake County is located in Grayslake, IL (Midsize Suburban setting); Prairie State College is in Chicago Heights, IL (Large Suburban setting).
• College of Lake County is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Prairie State College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: College of Lake County 16:1; Prairie State College 12:1.

College of Lake County vs. Prairie State College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, College of Lake County 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 College of Lake County ($5,317 vs. $6,357).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Prairie State College are 55.3% lower than at College of Lake County ($7,516 vs. $16,800).
• College of Lake County is 16.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Prairie State College (about $1,527 more per year; $10,869.00 vs. $9,342.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 30.2% higher at College of Lake County than at Prairie State College (about $3,336 more per year; $14,400.00 vs. $11,064.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Prairie State College than at College of Lake County (68% vs. 52%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Prairie State College students is 33.2% larger than aid received by College of Lake County students ($8,470 vs. $6,361).

College of Lake County vs. Prairie State College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, College of Lake County 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 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; Prairie State College - Open admission.

College of Lake County vs. Prairie State College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for College of Lake County 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 College of Lake County earn a median of about $2,800 more per year than Prairie State College graduates about ten years after starting college ($35,800 vs. $33,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, College of Lake County graduates have a $4,732 lower median loan debt than Prairie State College graduates ($5,500 vs. $10,232).
• Among borrowers, College of Lake County graduates have an estimated $49 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Prairie State College graduates ($56 vs. $105).
• More College of Lake County graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Prairie State College students, three years after graduation. (47% vs. 28%)

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.