Highland Community College vs. Frontier Community College

Comparable Facts

Compare Highland Community College in Freeport, IL with Frontier Community College in Fairfield, IL on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Frontier Community College is larger than Highland Community College based on total student enrollment (2,364 students vs. 1,360 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Highland Community College is located in Freeport, IL (Distant Town setting); Frontier Community College is in Fairfield, IL (Rural Fringe setting).
• Highland Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Frontier Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Highland Community College 13:1; Frontier Community College 31:1.

Highland Community College vs. Frontier Community College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Highland Community College or Frontier Community 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 Highland Community College are 18.9% lower than at Frontier Community College ($5,950 vs. $7,338).
• Frontier Community College is 27.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Highland Community College (about $1,964 more per year; $9,180.00 vs. $7,216.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 52.9% higher at Frontier Community College than at Highland Community College (about $3,890 more per year; $11,250.00 vs. $7,360.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Highland Community College than at Frontier Community College (73% vs. 0%).

Highland Community College vs. Frontier Community College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Highland Community College or Frontier Community 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 Frontier Community College 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; Frontier Community College - Open admission.

Highland Community College vs. Frontier Community College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Highland Community College and Frontier Community 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 Frontier Community College earn a median of about $400 more per year than Highland Community College graduates about ten years after starting college ($30,800 vs. $30,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Frontier Community College graduates have a $1,126 lower median loan debt than Highland Community College graduates ($6,374 vs. $7,500).
• Among borrowers, Frontier Community College graduates have an estimated $12 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Highland Community College graduates ($65 vs. $77).
• More Frontier Community College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Highland Community College students, three years after graduation. (44% 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.