ICC vs. Prairie State College

Comparable Facts

Compare Illinois Central College in East Peoria, IL with Prairie State College in Chicago Heights, IL on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Illinois Central College is larger than Prairie State College based on total student enrollment (7,906 students vs. 2,953 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Illinois Central College is located in East Peoria, IL (Rural Fringe setting); Prairie State College is in Chicago Heights, IL (Large Suburban setting).
• Illinois Central College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Prairie State College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Illinois Central College 17:1; Prairie State College 12:1.

ICC vs. Prairie State College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, ICC 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 ICC ($5,317 vs. $12,570).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Prairie State College are 50.9% lower than at Illinois Central College ($7,516 vs. $15,300).
• Illinois Central College is 9.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Prairie State College (about $888 more per year; $10,230.00 vs. $9,342.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 9.8% higher at ICC than at Prairie State College (about $1,086 more per year; $12,150.00 vs. $11,064.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Prairie State College than at Illinois Central College (68% vs. 51%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Prairie State College students is 36.3% larger than aid received by Illinois Central College students ($8,470 vs. $6,212).

ICC vs. Prairie State College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, ICC 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 ICC.

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

ICC vs. Prairie State College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for ICC 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 Illinois Central College earn a median of about $700 more per year than Prairie State College graduates about ten years after starting college ($33,700 vs. $33,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Illinois Central College graduates have a $3,732 lower median loan debt than Prairie State College graduates ($6,500 vs. $10,232).
• Among borrowers, ICC graduates have an estimated $38 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Prairie State College graduates ($67 vs. $105).
• More ICC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Prairie State College students, three years after graduation. (40% 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.