Highland Community College vs. Waubonsee

Comparable Facts

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

Waubonsee Community College is larger than Highland Community College based on total student enrollment (8,305 students vs. 1,360 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Highland Community College is located in Freeport, IL (Distant Town setting); Waubonsee Community College is in Sugar Grove, IL (Rural Fringe setting).
• Highland Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Waubonsee Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Highland Community College 13:1; Waubonsee Community College 21:1.

Highland Community College vs. Waubonsee Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Highland Community College or Waubonsee ? 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 Waubonsee ($5,393 vs. $12,754).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Highland Community College are 73.8% lower than at Waubonsee Community College ($5,950 vs. $22,700).
• Waubonsee Community College is 30.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Highland Community College (about $2,174 more per year; $9,390.00 vs. $7,216.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 42.4% higher at Waubonsee than at Highland Community College (about $3,117 more per year; $10,477.00 vs. $7,360.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Waubonsee Community College than at Highland Community College (75% vs. 73%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Highland Community College students is 17.7% larger than aid received by Waubonsee Community College students ($7,127 vs. $6,055).

Highland Community College vs. Waubonsee Admissions comparison

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

Highland Community College vs. Waubonsee Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Highland Community College and Waubonsee ? 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 Waubonsee Community College earn a median of about $4,500 more per year than Highland Community College graduates about ten years after starting college ($34,900 vs. $30,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Waubonsee Community College graduates have a $1,000 lower median loan debt than Highland Community College graduates ($6,500 vs. $7,500).
• Among borrowers, Waubonsee graduates have an estimated $10 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Highland Community College graduates ($67 vs. $77).
• More Waubonsee graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Highland Community College students, three years after graduation. (43% 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.