Highland Community College vs. Northwestern College

Comparable Facts

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

Highland Community College is larger than Northwestern College based on total student enrollment (1,360 students vs. 464 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Highland Community College is located in Freeport, IL (Distant Town setting); Northwestern College is in Oak Lawn, IL (Large Suburban setting).
• Highland Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Northwestern College is a private, for-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Highland Community College 13:1; Northwestern College 12:1.

Highland Community College vs. Northwestern College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Highland Community College or Northwestern 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 26.5% lower than at Northwestern College ($5,950 vs. $8,100).
• Northwestern College is 153.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Highland Community College (about $11,064 more per year; $18,280.00 vs. $7,216.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 148.4% higher at Northwestern College than at Highland Community College (about $10,920 more per year; $18,280.00 vs. $7,360.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Highland Community College than at Northwestern College (73% vs. 0%).

Highland Community College vs. Northwestern College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Highland Community College or Northwestern 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 Northwestern College and Highland Community College.

• Highland Community College reports an open admissions policy.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Highland Community College - Open admission; Northwestern College - Not reported.

Highland Community College vs. Northwestern College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Highland Community College and Northwestern 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 Northwestern College earn a median of about $1,600 more per year than Highland Community College graduates about ten years after starting college ($32,000 vs. $30,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Highland Community College graduates have a $19,500 lower median loan debt than Northwestern College graduates ($7,500 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, Highland Community College graduates have an estimated $202 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Northwestern College graduates ($77 vs. $279).
• More Highland Community College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Northwestern College students, three years after graduation. (41% vs. 22%)

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.