Joliet Junior College vs. Harper

Comparable Facts

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

Joliet Junior College is larger than Harper based on total student enrollment (14,414 students vs. 13,988 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Joliet Junior College is located in Joliet, IL (Rural Fringe setting); William Rainey Harper College is in Palatine, IL (Large Suburban setting).
• Joliet Junior 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: Joliet Junior College 20:1; William Rainey Harper College 21:1.

Joliet Junior College vs. Harper Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Joliet Junior College 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 Joliet Junior College than Harper ($3,090 vs. $12,145).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Joliet Junior College are 30% lower than at William Rainey Harper College ($9,970 vs. $14,251).
• Joliet Junior College is 26.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Harper (about $2,688 more per year; $12,750.00 vs. $10,062.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 16.2% higher at Joliet Junior College than at William Rainey Harper College (about $1,926 more per year; $13,800.00 vs. $11,874.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Joliet Junior College than at William Rainey Harper College (58% vs. 55%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by William Rainey Harper College students is 16.7% larger than aid received by Joliet Junior College students ($7,368 vs. $6,311).

Joliet Junior College vs. Harper Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Joliet Junior College 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 Joliet Junior College.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Joliet Junior College - Open admission; Harper - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: Joliet Junior College Aug 16, 2027.

Joliet Junior College vs. Harper Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Joliet Junior College 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 $6,400 more per year than Joliet Junior College graduates about ten years after starting college ($40,500 vs. $34,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Joliet Junior College graduates have a $2,000 lower median loan debt than Harper graduates ($8,000 vs. $10,000).
• Among borrowers, Joliet Junior College graduates have an estimated $21 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Harper graduates ($82 vs. $103).
• More Harper graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Joliet Junior College students, three years after graduation. (46% vs. 36%)

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.