Lake Land College vs. Heartland Community College

Comparable Facts

Compare Lake Land College in Mattoon, IL with Heartland Community College in Normal, IL on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Heartland Community College is larger than Lake Land College based on total student enrollment (4,855 students vs. 3,960 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Lake Land College is located in Mattoon, IL (Remote Town setting); Heartland Community College is in Normal, IL (Rural Fringe setting).
• Lake Land College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Heartland Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Lake Land College 13:1; Heartland Community College 18:1.

Lake Land College vs. Heartland Community College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Lake Land College or Heartland Community 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 Lake Land College than Heartland Community College ($4,414 vs. $11,165).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Lake Land College are 48.1% lower than at Heartland Community College ($6,000 vs. $11,550).
• Heartland Community College is 26.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Lake Land College (about $2,248 more per year; $10,590.00 vs. $8,342.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 9.1% higher at Lake Land College than at Heartland Community College (about $1,191 more per year; $14,301.00 vs. $13,110.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Lake Land College than at Heartland Community College (80% vs. 67%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Heartland Community College students is 17.6% larger than aid received by Lake Land College students ($6,601 vs. $5,615).

Lake Land College vs. Heartland Community College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Lake Land College or Heartland Community 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 Heartland Community College and Lake Land College.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Lake Land College - Open admission; Heartland Community College - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: Lake Land College Sep 3, 2026.

Lake Land College vs. Heartland Community College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Lake Land College and Heartland Community 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 Lake Land College earn a median of about $1,100 more per year than Heartland Community College graduates about ten years after starting college ($31,600 vs. $30,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Lake Land College graduates have a $2,250 lower median loan debt than Heartland Community College graduates ($4,500 vs. $6,750).
• Among borrowers, Lake Land College graduates have an estimated $23 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Heartland Community College graduates ($46 vs. $69).
• More Lake Land College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Heartland Community College students, three years after graduation. (49% vs. 41%)

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.