Highland Community College vs. MCC

Comparable Facts

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

McHenry County College is larger than Highland Community College based on total student enrollment (9,399 students vs. 1,360 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Highland Community College is located in Freeport, IL (Distant Town setting); McHenry County College is in Crystal Lake, IL (Rural Fringe setting).
• Highland Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. McHenry County College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Highland Community College 13:1; McHenry County College 25:1.

Highland Community College vs. MCC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Highland Community College or MCC? 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 MCC ($5,393 vs. $6,334).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Highland Community College are 50.8% lower than at McHenry County College ($5,950 vs. $12,090).
• McHenry County College is 44% more expensive for in-state tuition than Highland Community College (about $3,176 more per year; $10,392.00 vs. $7,216.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 95.6% higher at MCC than at Highland Community College (about $7,039 more per year; $14,399.00 vs. $7,360.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Highland Community College than at McHenry County College (73% vs. 33%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Highland Community College students is 11% larger than aid received by McHenry County College students ($7,127 vs. $6,422).

Highland Community College vs. MCC Admissions comparison

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

Highland Community College vs. MCC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Highland Community College and MCC? 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 McHenry County College earn a median of about $2,400 more per year than Highland Community College graduates about ten years after starting college ($32,800 vs. $30,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, McHenry County College graduates have a $3,000 lower median loan debt than Highland Community College graduates ($4,500 vs. $7,500).
• Among borrowers, MCC graduates have an estimated $31 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Highland Community College graduates ($46 vs. $77).
• More MCC 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.