Highland Community College vs. Lake Land College

Comparable Facts

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

Lake Land College is larger than Highland Community College based on total student enrollment (3,960 students vs. 1,360 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Highland Community College is located in Freeport, IL (Distant Town setting); Lake Land College is in Mattoon, IL (Remote Town setting).
• Highland Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Lake Land College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Highland Community College 13:1; Lake Land College 13:1.

Highland Community College vs. Lake Land College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Highland Community College or Lake Land College? 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 Lake Land College than Highland Community College ($4,414 vs. $5,393).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Highland Community College are 0.8% lower than at Lake Land College ($5,950 vs. $6,000).
• Lake Land College is 15.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Highland Community College (about $1,126 more per year; $8,342.00 vs. $7,216.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 94.3% higher at Lake Land College than at Highland Community College (about $6,941 more per year; $14,301.00 vs. $7,360.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Lake Land College than at Highland Community College (80% vs. 73%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Highland Community College students is 26.9% larger than aid received by Lake Land College students ($7,127 vs. $5,615).

Highland Community College vs. Lake Land College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Highland Community College or Lake Land 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 Lake Land 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; Lake Land College - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: Lake Land College Sep 3, 2026.

Highland Community College vs. Lake Land College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Highland Community College and Lake Land 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 Lake Land College earn a median of about $1,200 more per year than Highland Community College graduates about ten years after starting college ($31,600 vs. $30,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Lake Land College graduates have a $3,000 lower median loan debt than Highland Community College graduates ($4,500 vs. $7,500).
• Among borrowers, Lake Land College graduates have an estimated $31 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Highland Community College graduates ($46 vs. $77).
• More Lake Land College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Highland Community College students, three years after graduation. (49% 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.