Highland Community College vs. Harper

Comparable Facts

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

William Rainey Harper College is larger than Highland Community College based on total student enrollment (13,988 students vs. 1,360 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Highland Community College is located in Freeport, IL (Distant Town setting); William Rainey Harper College is in Palatine, IL (Large Suburban setting).
• Highland Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. William Rainey Harper College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Highland Community College 13:1; William Rainey Harper College 21:1.

Highland Community College vs. Harper Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Highland Community College or Harper? 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 Harper ($5,393 vs. $12,145).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Highland Community College are 58.2% lower than at William Rainey Harper College ($5,950 vs. $14,251).
• William Rainey Harper College is 39.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Highland Community College (about $2,846 more per year; $10,062.00 vs. $7,216.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 61.3% higher at Harper than at Highland Community College (about $4,514 more per year; $11,874.00 vs. $7,360.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Highland Community College than at William Rainey Harper College (73% vs. 55%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by William Rainey Harper College students is 3.4% larger than aid received by Highland Community College students ($7,368 vs. $7,127).

Highland Community College vs. Harper Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Highland Community College or Harper? 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 Harper and Highland Community College.

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

Highland Community College vs. Harper Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Highland Community College and Harper? 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 $10,100 more per year than Highland Community College graduates about ten years after starting college ($40,500 vs. $30,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Highland Community College graduates have a $2,500 lower median loan debt than Harper graduates ($7,500 vs. $10,000).
• Among borrowers, Highland Community College graduates have an estimated $26 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Harper graduates ($77 vs. $103).
• More Harper graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Highland Community College students, three years after graduation. (46% 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.