ICC vs. Harper

Comparable Facts

Compare Illinois Central College in East Peoria, IL with William Rainey Harper College in Palatine, IL on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

William Rainey Harper College is larger than ICC based on total student enrollment (13,988 students vs. 7,906 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Illinois Central College is located in East Peoria, IL (Rural Fringe setting); William Rainey Harper College is in Palatine, IL (Large Suburban setting).
• Illinois Central College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. William Rainey Harper College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Illinois Central College 17:1; William Rainey Harper College 21:1.

ICC vs. Harper Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, ICC or Harper? 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 William Rainey Harper College than ICC ($12,145 vs. $12,570).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at William Rainey Harper College are 6.9% lower than at Illinois Central College ($14,251 vs. $15,300).
• Illinois Central College is 1.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Harper (about $168 more per year; $10,230.00 vs. $10,062.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 2.3% higher at ICC than at William Rainey Harper College (about $276 more per year; $12,150.00 vs. $11,874.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at William Rainey Harper College than at Illinois Central College (55% vs. 51%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by William Rainey Harper College students is 18.6% larger than aid received by Illinois Central College students ($7,368 vs. $6,212).

ICC vs. Harper Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, ICC or Harper? 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 Harper and ICC.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: ICC - Open admission; Harper - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: ICC Aug 22, 2027.

ICC vs. Harper Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for ICC and Harper? 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 William Rainey Harper College earn a median of about $6,800 more per year than ICC graduates about ten years after starting college ($40,500 vs. $33,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Illinois Central College graduates have a $3,500 lower median loan debt than Harper graduates ($6,500 vs. $10,000).
• Among borrowers, ICC graduates have an estimated $36 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Harper graduates ($67 vs. $103).
• More Harper graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former ICC students, three years after graduation. (46% vs. 40%)

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.