Highland Community College vs. Prairie State College

Comparable Facts

Compare Highland Community College in Freeport, IL with Prairie State College in Chicago Heights, IL on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Prairie State College is larger than Highland Community College based on total student enrollment (2,953 students vs. 1,360 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Highland Community College is located in Freeport, IL (Distant Town setting); Prairie State College is in Chicago Heights, IL (Large Suburban setting).
• Highland Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Prairie State College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Highland Community College 13:1; Prairie State College 12:1.

Highland Community College vs. Prairie State College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Highland Community College or Prairie State 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 Prairie State College than Highland Community College ($5,317 vs. $5,393).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Highland Community College are 20.8% lower than at Prairie State College ($5,950 vs. $7,516).
• Prairie State College is 29.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Highland Community College (about $2,126 more per year; $9,342.00 vs. $7,216.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 50.3% higher at Prairie State College than at Highland Community College (about $3,704 more per year; $11,064.00 vs. $7,360.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Highland Community College than at Prairie State College (73% vs. 68%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Prairie State College students is 18.8% larger than aid received by Highland Community College students ($8,470 vs. $7,127).

Highland Community College vs. Prairie State College Admissions comparison

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

Highland Community College vs. Prairie State College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Highland Community College and Prairie State 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 Prairie State College earn a median of about $2,600 more per year than Highland Community College graduates about ten years after starting college ($33,000 vs. $30,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Highland Community College graduates have a $2,732 lower median loan debt than Prairie State College graduates ($7,500 vs. $10,232).
• Among borrowers, Highland Community College graduates have an estimated $28 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Prairie State College graduates ($77 vs. $105).
• More Highland Community College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Prairie State College students, three years after graduation. (41% vs. 28%)

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.