Highland Community College vs. Parkland College

Comparable Facts

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

Parkland College is larger than Highland Community College based on total student enrollment (6,014 students vs. 1,360 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Highland Community College vs. Parkland College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Highland Community College or Parkland 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 Parkland College ($5,393 vs. $7,681).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Highland Community College are 36.7% lower than at Parkland College ($5,950 vs. $9,400).
• Parkland College is 33.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Highland Community College (about $2,426 more per year; $9,642.00 vs. $7,216.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 80.2% higher at Parkland College than at Highland Community College (about $5,906 more per year; $13,266.00 vs. $7,360.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Highland Community College than at Parkland College (73% vs. 51%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Parkland College students is 1.6% larger than aid received by Highland Community College students ($7,244 vs. $7,127).

Highland Community College vs. Parkland College Admissions comparison

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

Highland Community College vs. Parkland College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Highland Community College and Parkland 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 Parkland College earn a median of about $3,600 more per year than Highland Community College graduates about ten years after starting college ($34,000 vs. $30,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Highland Community College graduates have a $500 lower median loan debt than Parkland College graduates ($7,500 vs. $8,000).
• Among borrowers, Highland Community College graduates have an estimated $5 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Parkland College graduates ($77 vs. $82).
• More Highland Community College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Parkland College students, three years after graduation. (41% vs. 32%)

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.