Lewis and Clark Community College vs. Prairie State College

Comparable Facts

Compare Lewis and Clark Community College in Godfrey, IL with Prairie State College in Chicago Heights, IL on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Lewis and Clark Community College is larger than Prairie State College based on total student enrollment (4,606 students vs. 2,953 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Lewis and Clark Community College is located in Godfrey, IL (Rural Fringe setting); Prairie State College is in Chicago Heights, IL (Large Suburban setting).
• Lewis and Clark Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Prairie State College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Lewis and Clark Community College 18:1; Prairie State College 12:1.

Lewis and Clark Community College vs. Prairie State College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Lewis and Clark Community 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 Lewis and Clark Community College than Prairie State College ($2,781 vs. $5,317).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Lewis and Clark Community College are 4.2% lower than at Prairie State College ($7,200 vs. $7,516).
• Prairie State College is 19.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Lewis and Clark Community College (about $1,502 more per year; $9,342.00 vs. $7,840.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 41.1% higher at Prairie State College than at Lewis and Clark Community College (about $3,224 more per year; $11,064.00 vs. $7,840.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Prairie State College than at Lewis and Clark Community College (68% vs. 60%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Prairie State College students is 27.2% larger than aid received by Lewis and Clark Community College students ($8,470 vs. $6,659).

Lewis and Clark Community College vs. Prairie State College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Lewis and Clark Community 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 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; Prairie State College - Open admission.

Lewis and Clark Community College vs. Prairie State College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Lewis and Clark Community 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 $2,000 more per year than Lewis and Clark Community College graduates about ten years after starting college ($33,000 vs. $31,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Lewis and Clark Community College graduates have a $5,020 lower median loan debt than Prairie State College graduates ($5,212 vs. $10,232).
• Among borrowers, Lewis and Clark Community College graduates have an estimated $52 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Prairie State College graduates ($53 vs. $105).
• More Lewis and Clark Community College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Prairie State College students, three years after graduation. (57% 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.