Harper vs. Lincoln Trail College

Comparable Facts

Compare William Rainey Harper College in Palatine, IL with Lincoln Trail College in Robinson, IL on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

William Rainey Harper College is larger than Lincoln Trail College based on total student enrollment (13,988 students vs. 605 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• William Rainey Harper College is located in Palatine, IL (Large Suburban setting); Lincoln Trail College is in Robinson, IL (Distant Town setting).
• William Rainey Harper College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Lincoln Trail College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: William Rainey Harper College 21:1; Lincoln Trail College 15:1.

Harper vs. Lincoln Trail College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Harper or Lincoln Trail College? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Lincoln Trail College are 48.5% lower than at William Rainey Harper College ($7,338 vs. $14,251).
• William Rainey Harper College is 9.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Lincoln Trail College (about $882 more per year; $10,062.00 vs. $9,180.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 5.5% higher at Harper than at Lincoln Trail College (about $624 more per year; $11,874.00 vs. $11,250.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at William Rainey Harper College than at Lincoln Trail College (55% vs. 0%).

Harper vs. Lincoln Trail College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Harper or Lincoln Trail 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 Lincoln Trail College and Harper.

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

Harper vs. Lincoln Trail College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Harper and Lincoln Trail 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 William Rainey Harper College earn a median of about $4,200 more per year than Lincoln Trail College graduates about ten years after starting college ($40,500 vs. $36,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Lincoln Trail College graduates have a $5,500 lower median loan debt than Harper graduates ($4,500 vs. $10,000).
• Among borrowers, Lincoln Trail College graduates have an estimated $57 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Harper graduates ($46 vs. $103).
• More Lincoln Trail College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Harper students, three years after graduation. (50% 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.