Highland Community College vs. Sauk Valley Community College

Comparable Facts

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

Sauk Valley Community College is larger than Highland Community College based on total student enrollment (1,467 students vs. 1,360 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Highland Community College is located in Freeport, IL (Distant Town setting); Sauk Valley Community College is in Dixon, IL (Rural Fringe setting).
• Highland Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Sauk Valley Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Highland Community College 13:1; Sauk Valley Community College 14:1.

Highland Community College vs. Sauk Valley Community College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Highland Community College or Sauk Valley Community 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 Sauk Valley Community College ($5,393 vs. $9,141).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Highland Community College are 44.9% lower than at Sauk Valley Community College ($5,950 vs. $10,798).
• Sauk Valley Community College is 61.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Highland Community College (about $4,424 more per year; $11,640.00 vs. $7,216.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 75.3% higher at Sauk Valley Community College than at Highland Community College (about $5,540 more per year; $12,900.00 vs. $7,360.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Highland Community College than at Sauk Valley Community College (73% vs. 62%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Highland Community College students is 12.8% larger than aid received by Sauk Valley Community College students ($7,127 vs. $6,319).

Highland Community College vs. Sauk Valley Community College Admissions comparison

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

Highland Community College vs. Sauk Valley Community College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Highland Community College and Sauk Valley Community 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 Sauk Valley Community College earn a median of about $3,200 more per year than Highland Community College graduates about ten years after starting college ($33,600 vs. $30,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Sauk Valley Community College graduates have a $2,000 lower median loan debt than Highland Community College graduates ($5,500 vs. $7,500).
• Among borrowers, Sauk Valley Community College graduates have an estimated $21 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Highland Community College graduates ($56 vs. $77).
• More Sauk Valley Community College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Highland Community College students, three years after graduation. (58% 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.