Lake Land College vs. Sauk Valley Community College

Comparable Facts

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

Lake Land College is larger than Sauk Valley Community College based on total student enrollment (3,960 students vs. 1,467 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Lake Land College is located in Mattoon, IL (Remote Town setting); Sauk Valley Community College is in Dixon, IL (Rural Fringe setting).
• Lake Land College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Sauk Valley Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Lake Land College 13:1; Sauk Valley Community College 14:1.

Lake Land College vs. Sauk Valley Community College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Lake Land College or Sauk Valley 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 Sauk Valley Community College ($4,414 vs. $9,141).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Lake Land College are 44.4% lower than at Sauk Valley Community College ($6,000 vs. $10,798).
• Sauk Valley Community College is 39.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Lake Land College (about $3,298 more per year; $11,640.00 vs. $8,342.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 10.9% higher at Lake Land College than at Sauk Valley Community College (about $1,401 more per year; $14,301.00 vs. $12,900.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Lake Land College than at Sauk Valley Community College (80% vs. 62%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Sauk Valley Community College students is 12.5% larger than aid received by Lake Land College students ($6,319 vs. $5,615).

Lake Land College vs. Sauk Valley Community College Admissions comparison

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

Lake Land College vs. Sauk Valley Community College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Lake Land College and Sauk Valley 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 Sauk Valley Community College earn a median of about $2,000 more per year than Lake Land College graduates about ten years after starting college ($33,600 vs. $31,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Lake Land College graduates have a $1,000 lower median loan debt than Sauk Valley Community College graduates ($4,500 vs. $5,500).
• Among borrowers, Lake Land College graduates have an estimated $10 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Sauk Valley Community College graduates ($46 vs. $56).
• More Sauk Valley Community College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Lake Land College students, three years after graduation. (58% 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.