IVCC vs. Prairie State College

Comparable Facts

Compare Illinois Valley Community College in Oglesby, 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 IVCC based on total student enrollment (2,953 students vs. 2,720 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Illinois Valley Community College is located in Oglesby, IL (Rural Fringe setting); Prairie State College is in Chicago Heights, IL (Large Suburban setting).
• Illinois Valley 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: Illinois Valley Community College 15:1; Prairie State College 12:1.

IVCC vs. Prairie State College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, IVCC 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 Illinois Valley Community College than Prairie State College ($3,437 vs. $5,317).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Illinois Valley Community College are 7.2% lower than at Prairie State College ($6,975 vs. $7,516).
• Illinois Valley Community College is 63.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Prairie State College (about $5,897 more per year; $15,239.00 vs. $9,342.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 48.1% higher at IVCC than at Prairie State College (about $5,321 more per year; $16,385.00 vs. $11,064.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Prairie State College than at Illinois Valley Community College (68% vs. 54%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Prairie State College students is 12.3% larger than aid received by Illinois Valley Community College students ($8,470 vs. $7,544).

IVCC vs. Prairie State College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, IVCC 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 IVCC.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: IVCC - Open admission; Prairie State College - Open admission.

IVCC vs. Prairie State College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for IVCC 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 Valley Community College earn a median of about $300 more per year than Prairie State College graduates about ten years after starting college ($33,300 vs. $33,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Prairie State College graduates have a $268 lower median loan debt than IVCC graduates ($10,232 vs. $10,500).
• Among borrowers, Prairie State College graduates have an estimated $3 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than IVCC graduates ($105 vs. $108).
• More IVCC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Prairie State College students, three years after graduation. (42% 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.