Lewis and Clark Community College vs. Harper

Comparable Facts

Compare Lewis and Clark Community College in Godfrey, IL with William Rainey Harper College in Palatine, IL on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

William Rainey Harper College is larger than Lewis and Clark Community College based on total student enrollment (13,988 students vs. 4,606 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Lewis and Clark Community College is located in Godfrey, IL (Rural Fringe setting); William Rainey Harper College is in Palatine, IL (Large Suburban setting).
• Lewis and Clark Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. William Rainey Harper College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Lewis and Clark Community College 18:1; William Rainey Harper College 21:1.

Lewis and Clark Community College vs. Harper Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Lewis and Clark Community College or Harper? 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 Lewis and Clark Community College than Harper ($2,781 vs. $12,145).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Lewis and Clark Community College are 49.5% lower than at William Rainey Harper College ($7,200 vs. $14,251).
• William Rainey Harper College is 28.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Lewis and Clark Community College (about $2,222 more per year; $10,062.00 vs. $7,840.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 51.5% higher at Harper than at Lewis and Clark Community College (about $4,034 more per year; $11,874.00 vs. $7,840.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Lewis and Clark Community College than at William Rainey Harper College (60% vs. 55%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by William Rainey Harper College students is 10.6% larger than aid received by Lewis and Clark Community College students ($7,368 vs. $6,659).

Lewis and Clark Community College vs. Harper Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Lewis and Clark Community College or Harper? 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 Harper and Lewis and Clark Community College.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Lewis and Clark Community College - Open admission; Harper - Open admission.

Lewis and Clark Community College vs. Harper Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Lewis and Clark Community College and Harper? 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 William Rainey Harper College earn a median of about $9,500 more per year than Lewis and Clark Community College graduates about ten years after starting college ($40,500 vs. $31,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Lewis and Clark Community College graduates have a $4,788 lower median loan debt than Harper graduates ($5,212 vs. $10,000).
• Among borrowers, Lewis and Clark Community College graduates have an estimated $50 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Harper graduates ($53 vs. $103).
• More Lewis and Clark Community College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Harper students, three years after graduation. (57% vs. 46%)

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.