DACC vs. Highland Community College

Comparable Facts

Compare Danville Area Community College in Danville, IL with Highland Community College in Freeport, IL on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Danville Area Community College is larger than Highland Community College based on total student enrollment (2,297 students vs. 1,360 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Danville Area Community College is located in Danville, IL (Small City setting); Highland Community College is in Freeport, IL (Distant Town setting).
• Danville Area Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Highland Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Danville Area Community College 16:1; Highland Community College 13:1.

DACC vs. Highland Community College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, DACC 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 DACC ($5,393 vs. $5,581).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Highland Community College are 37.6% lower than at Danville Area Community College ($5,950 vs. $9,540).
• Danville Area Community College is 3.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Highland Community College (about $224 more per year; $7,440.00 vs. $7,216.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 1.1% higher at DACC than at Highland Community College (about $80 more per year; $7,440.00 vs. $7,360.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Danville Area Community College than at Highland Community College (78% vs. 73%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Danville Area Community College students is 3.2% larger than aid received by Highland Community College students ($7,356 vs. $7,127).

DACC vs. Highland Community College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, DACC 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 DACC.

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

DACC vs. Highland Community College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for DACC 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 Highland Community College earn a median of about $800 more per year than DACC graduates about ten years after starting college ($30,400 vs. $29,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Danville Area Community College graduates have a $2,000 lower median loan debt than Highland Community College graduates ($5,500 vs. $7,500).
• Among borrowers, DACC graduates have an estimated $21 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Highland Community College graduates ($56 vs. $77).
• More DACC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Highland Community College students, three years after graduation. (45% 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.