Highland Community College vs. MVCC

Comparable Facts

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

Moraine Valley Community College is larger than Highland Community College based on total student enrollment (11,296 students vs. 1,360 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Highland Community College is located in Freeport, IL (Distant Town setting); Moraine Valley Community College is in Palos Hills, IL (Large Suburban setting).
• Highland Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Moraine Valley Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Highland Community College 13:1; Moraine Valley Community College 21:1.

Highland Community College vs. MVCC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Highland Community College or MVCC? 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 Moraine Valley Community College than Highland Community College ($2,915 vs. $5,393).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Highland Community College are 66.4% lower than at Moraine Valley Community College ($5,950 vs. $17,734).
• Moraine Valley Community College is 17.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Highland Community College (about $1,286 more per year; $8,502.00 vs. $7,216.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 33.8% higher at MVCC than at Highland Community College (about $2,486 more per year; $9,846.00 vs. $7,360.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Highland Community College than at Moraine Valley Community College (73% vs. 60%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Moraine Valley Community College students is 51.9% larger than aid received by Highland Community College students ($10,825 vs. $7,127).

Highland Community College vs. MVCC Admissions comparison

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

Highland Community College vs. MVCC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Highland Community College and MVCC? 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 Moraine Valley Community College earn a median of about $6,000 more per year than Highland Community College graduates about ten years after starting college ($36,400 vs. $30,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Highland Community College graduates have a $1,638 lower median loan debt than MVCC graduates ($7,500 vs. $9,138).
• Among borrowers, Highland Community College graduates have an estimated $17 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than MVCC graduates ($77 vs. $94).
• More MVCC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Highland Community College students, three years after graduation. (43% 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.