Lake Land College vs. Prairie State College

Comparable Facts

Compare Lake Land College in Mattoon, IL with Prairie State College in Chicago Heights, IL on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Lake Land College is larger than Prairie State College based on total student enrollment (3,960 students vs. 2,953 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Lake Land College is located in Mattoon, IL (Remote Town setting); Prairie State College is in Chicago Heights, IL (Large Suburban setting).
• Lake Land College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Prairie State College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Lake Land College 13:1; Prairie State College 12:1.

Lake Land College vs. Prairie State College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Lake Land 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 Lake Land College than Prairie State College ($4,414 vs. $5,317).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Lake Land College are 20.2% lower than at Prairie State College ($6,000 vs. $7,516).
• Prairie State College is 12% more expensive for in-state tuition than Lake Land College (about $1,000 more per year; $9,342.00 vs. $8,342.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 29.3% higher at Lake Land College than at Prairie State College (about $3,237 more per year; $14,301.00 vs. $11,064.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Lake Land College than at Prairie State College (80% vs. 68%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Prairie State College students is 50.8% larger than aid received by Lake Land College students ($8,470 vs. $5,615).

Lake Land College vs. Prairie State College Admissions comparison

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

Lake Land College vs. Prairie State College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Lake Land 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 $1,400 more per year than Lake Land College graduates about ten years after starting college ($33,000 vs. $31,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Lake Land College graduates have a $5,732 lower median loan debt than Prairie State College graduates ($4,500 vs. $10,232).
• Among borrowers, Lake Land College graduates have an estimated $59 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Prairie State College graduates ($46 vs. $105).
• More Lake Land College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Prairie State College students, three years after graduation. (49% 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.