Harper vs. Wabash Valley College

Comparable Facts

Compare William Rainey Harper College in Palatine, IL with Wabash Valley College in Mount Carmel, IL on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

William Rainey Harper College is larger than Wabash Valley College based on total student enrollment (13,988 students vs. 906 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• William Rainey Harper College is located in Palatine, IL (Large Suburban setting); Wabash Valley College is in Mount Carmel, IL (Distant Town setting).
• William Rainey Harper College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Wabash Valley College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: William Rainey Harper College 21:1; Wabash Valley College 18:1.

Harper vs. Wabash Valley College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Harper or Wabash Valley 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 Wabash Valley 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 Wabash Valley 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 Wabash Valley 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 Wabash Valley College (55% vs. 0%).

Harper vs. Wabash Valley College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Harper or Wabash Valley 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 Wabash Valley 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; Wabash Valley College - Open admission.

Harper vs. Wabash Valley College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Harper and Wabash Valley 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 $8,100 more per year than Wabash Valley College graduates about ten years after starting college ($40,500 vs. $32,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Wabash Valley College graduates have a $4,500 lower median loan debt than Harper graduates ($5,500 vs. $10,000).
• Among borrowers, Wabash Valley College graduates have an estimated $47 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Harper graduates ($56 vs. $103).
• More Wabash Valley College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Harper students, three years after graduation. (68% 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.