DACC vs. Prairie State College

Comparable Facts

Compare Danville Area Community College in Danville, IL with Prairie State College in Chicago Heights, IL on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Prairie State College is larger than DACC based on total student enrollment (2,953 students vs. 2,297 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Danville Area Community College is located in Danville, IL (Small City setting); Prairie State College is in Chicago Heights, IL (Large Suburban setting).
• Danville Area Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Prairie State College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Danville Area Community College 16:1; Prairie State College 12:1.

DACC vs. Prairie State College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, DACC 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 DACC ($5,317 vs. $5,581).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Prairie State College are 21.2% lower than at Danville Area Community College ($7,516 vs. $9,540).
• Prairie State College is 25.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than DACC (about $1,902 more per year; $9,342.00 vs. $7,440.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 48.7% higher at Prairie State College than at Danville Area Community College (about $3,624 more per year; $11,064.00 vs. $7,440.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Danville Area Community College than at Prairie State College (78% vs. 68%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Prairie State College students is 15.1% larger than aid received by Danville Area Community College students ($8,470 vs. $7,356).

DACC vs. Prairie State College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, DACC 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 DACC.

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

DACC vs. Prairie State College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for DACC 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 Prairie State College earn a median of about $3,400 more per year than DACC graduates about ten years after starting college ($33,000 vs. $29,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Danville Area Community College graduates have a $4,732 lower median loan debt than Prairie State College graduates ($5,500 vs. $10,232).
• Among borrowers, DACC graduates have an estimated $49 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Prairie State College graduates ($56 vs. $105).
• More DACC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Prairie State College students, three years after graduation. (45% 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.