Lake Land College vs. Oakton College

Comparable Facts

Compare Lake Land College in Mattoon, IL with Oakton College in Des Plaines, IL on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Oakton College is larger than Lake Land College based on total student enrollment (8,329 students vs. 3,960 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Lake Land College is located in Mattoon, IL (Remote Town setting); Oakton College is in Des Plaines, IL (Small City setting).
• Lake Land College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Oakton College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Lake Land College 13:1; Oakton College 14:1.

Lake Land College vs. Oakton College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Lake Land College or Oakton 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 Oakton College ($4,414 vs. $5,401).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Lake Land College are 33.3% lower than at Oakton College ($6,000 vs. $8,994).
• Oakton College is 25.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Lake Land College (about $2,104 more per year; $10,446.00 vs. $8,342.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 14.8% higher at Lake Land College than at Oakton College (about $1,839 more per year; $14,301.00 vs. $12,462.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Lake Land College than at Oakton College (80% vs. 62%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Oakton College students is 8.4% larger than aid received by Lake Land College students ($6,085 vs. $5,615).

Lake Land College vs. Oakton College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Lake Land College or Oakton 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 Oakton 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; Oakton College - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: Lake Land College Sep 3, 2026.

Lake Land College vs. Oakton College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Lake Land College and Oakton 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 Oakton College earn a median of about $10,500 more per year than Lake Land College graduates about ten years after starting college ($42,100 vs. $31,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Lake Land College graduates have a $1,367 lower median loan debt than Oakton College graduates ($4,500 vs. $5,867).
• Among borrowers, Lake Land College graduates have an estimated $14 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Oakton College graduates ($46 vs. $60).
• More Oakton College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Lake Land College students, three years after graduation. (55% vs. 49%)

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.