Kankakee Community College vs. Prairie State College

Comparable Facts

Compare Kankakee Community College in Kankakee, 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 Kankakee Community College based on total student enrollment (2,953 students vs. 2,564 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Kankakee Community College is located in Kankakee, IL (Small City setting); Prairie State College is in Chicago Heights, IL (Large Suburban setting).
• Kankakee 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: Kankakee Community College 15:1; Prairie State College 12:1.

Kankakee Community College vs. Prairie State College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Kankakee Community College 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 Kankakee Community College than Prairie State College ($4,789 vs. $5,317).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Prairie State College are 24.7% lower than at Kankakee Community College ($7,516 vs. $9,984).
• Kankakee Community College is 44.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Prairie State College (about $4,128 more per year; $13,470.00 vs. $9,342.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 133.5% higher at Kankakee Community College than at Prairie State College (about $14,766 more per year; $25,830.00 vs. $11,064.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Prairie State College than at Kankakee Community College (68% vs. 60%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Prairie State College students is 33.3% larger than aid received by Kankakee Community College students ($8,470 vs. $6,356).

Kankakee Community College vs. Prairie State College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Kankakee Community College 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 Kankakee Community College.

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

Kankakee Community College vs. Prairie State College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Kankakee Community College 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 Prairie State College earn a median of about $1,100 more per year than Kankakee Community College graduates about ten years after starting college ($33,000 vs. $31,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Kankakee Community College graduates have a $1,639 lower median loan debt than Prairie State College graduates ($8,593 vs. $10,232).
• Among borrowers, Kankakee Community College graduates have an estimated $17 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Prairie State College graduates ($88 vs. $105).
• More Kankakee Community College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Prairie State College students, three years after graduation. (30% 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.