Highland Community College vs. Oakton College

Comparable Facts

Compare Highland Community College in Freeport, IL with Oakton College in Des Plaines, IL on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Oakton College is larger than Highland Community College based on total student enrollment (8,329 students vs. 1,360 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Highland Community College is located in Freeport, IL (Distant Town setting); Oakton College is in Des Plaines, IL (Small City setting).
• Highland Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Oakton College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Highland Community College 13:1; Oakton College 14:1.

Highland Community College vs. Oakton College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Highland Community College or Oakton 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 Highland Community College than Oakton College ($5,393 vs. $5,401).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Highland Community College are 33.8% lower than at Oakton College ($5,950 vs. $8,994).
• Oakton College is 44.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Highland Community College (about $3,230 more per year; $10,446.00 vs. $7,216.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 69.3% higher at Oakton College than at Highland Community College (about $5,102 more per year; $12,462.00 vs. $7,360.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Highland Community College than at Oakton College (73% vs. 62%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Highland Community College students is 17.1% larger than aid received by Oakton College students ($7,127 vs. $6,085).

Highland Community College vs. Oakton College Admissions comparison

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

Highland Community College vs. Oakton College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Highland Community College and Oakton 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 Oakton College earn a median of about $11,700 more per year than Highland Community College graduates about ten years after starting college ($42,100 vs. $30,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Oakton College graduates have a $1,633 lower median loan debt than Highland Community College graduates ($5,867 vs. $7,500).
• Among borrowers, Oakton College graduates have an estimated $17 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Highland Community College graduates ($60 vs. $77).
• More Oakton College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Highland Community College students, three years after graduation. (55% 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.