Highland Community College vs. ICC

Comparable Facts

Compare Highland Community College in Freeport, IL with Illinois Central College in East Peoria, IL on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Illinois Central College is larger than Highland Community College based on total student enrollment (7,906 students vs. 1,360 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Highland Community College is located in Freeport, IL (Distant Town setting); Illinois Central College is in East Peoria, IL (Rural Fringe setting).
• Highland Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Illinois Central College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Highland Community College 13:1; Illinois Central College 17:1.

Highland Community College vs. ICC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Highland Community College or ICC? 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 ICC ($5,393 vs. $12,570).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Highland Community College are 61.1% lower than at Illinois Central College ($5,950 vs. $15,300).
• Illinois Central College is 41.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Highland Community College (about $3,014 more per year; $10,230.00 vs. $7,216.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 65.1% higher at ICC than at Highland Community College (about $4,790 more per year; $12,150.00 vs. $7,360.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Highland Community College than at Illinois Central College (73% vs. 51%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Highland Community College students is 14.7% larger than aid received by Illinois Central College students ($7,127 vs. $6,212).

Highland Community College vs. ICC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Highland Community College or ICC? 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 ICC 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; ICC - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: ICC Aug 22, 2027.

Highland Community College vs. ICC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Highland Community College and ICC? 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 Illinois Central College earn a median of about $3,300 more per year than Highland Community College graduates about ten years after starting college ($33,700 vs. $30,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Illinois Central College graduates have a $1,000 lower median loan debt than Highland Community College graduates ($6,500 vs. $7,500).
• Among borrowers, ICC graduates have an estimated $10 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Highland Community College graduates ($67 vs. $77).
• More Highland Community College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former ICC students, three years after graduation. (41% vs. 40%)

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.