Highland Community College vs. IVCC

Comparable Facts

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

Illinois Valley Community College is larger than Highland Community College based on total student enrollment (2,720 students vs. 1,360 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Highland Community College is located in Freeport, IL (Distant Town setting); Illinois Valley Community College is in Oglesby, IL (Rural Fringe setting).
• Highland Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Illinois Valley Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Highland Community College 13:1; Illinois Valley Community College 15:1.

Highland Community College vs. IVCC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Highland Community College or IVCC? 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 Illinois Valley Community College than Highland Community College ($3,437 vs. $5,393).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Highland Community College are 14.7% lower than at Illinois Valley Community College ($5,950 vs. $6,975).
• Illinois Valley Community College is 111.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Highland Community College (about $8,023 more per year; $15,239.00 vs. $7,216.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 122.6% higher at IVCC than at Highland Community College (about $9,025 more per year; $16,385.00 vs. $7,360.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Highland Community College than at Illinois Valley Community College (73% vs. 54%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Illinois Valley Community College students is 5.9% larger than aid received by Highland Community College students ($7,544 vs. $7,127).

Highland Community College vs. IVCC Admissions comparison

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

Highland Community College vs. IVCC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Highland Community College and IVCC? 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 Valley Community College earn a median of about $2,900 more per year than Highland Community College graduates about ten years after starting college ($33,300 vs. $30,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Highland Community College graduates have a $3,000 lower median loan debt than IVCC graduates ($7,500 vs. $10,500).
• Among borrowers, Highland Community College graduates have an estimated $31 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than IVCC graduates ($77 vs. $108).
• More IVCC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Highland Community College students, three years after graduation. (42% 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.