Lake Land College vs. Northwestern College

Comparable Facts

Compare Lake Land College in Mattoon, IL with Northwestern College in Oak Lawn, IL on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Lake Land College is larger than Northwestern College based on total student enrollment (3,960 students vs. 464 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Lake Land College is located in Mattoon, IL (Remote Town setting); Northwestern College is in Oak Lawn, IL (Large Suburban setting).
• Lake Land College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Northwestern College is a private, for-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Lake Land College 13:1; Northwestern College 12:1.

Lake Land College vs. Northwestern College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Lake Land College or Northwestern College? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Lake Land College are 25.9% lower than at Northwestern College ($6,000 vs. $8,100).
• Northwestern College is 119.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Lake Land College (about $9,938 more per year; $18,280.00 vs. $8,342.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 27.8% higher at Northwestern College than at Lake Land College (about $3,979 more per year; $18,280.00 vs. $14,301.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Lake Land College than at Northwestern College (80% vs. 0%).

Lake Land College vs. Northwestern College Admissions comparison

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

• Lake Land College reports an open admissions policy.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Lake Land College - Open admission; Northwestern College - Not reported.
• Typical fall application deadline: Lake Land College Sep 3, 2026.

Lake Land College vs. Northwestern College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Lake Land College and Northwestern 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 Northwestern College earn a median of about $400 more per year than Lake Land College graduates about ten years after starting college ($32,000 vs. $31,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Lake Land College graduates have a $22,500 lower median loan debt than Northwestern College graduates ($4,500 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, Lake Land College graduates have an estimated $233 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Northwestern College graduates ($46 vs. $279).
• More Lake Land College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Northwestern College students, three years after graduation. (49% vs. 22%)

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.