LLCC vs. Harper

Comparable Facts

Compare Lincoln Land Community College in Springfield, 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 LLCC based on total student enrollment (13,988 students vs. 5,677 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Lincoln Land Community College is located in Springfield, IL (Midsize City setting); William Rainey Harper College is in Palatine, IL (Large Suburban setting).
• Lincoln Land 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: Lincoln Land Community College 17:1; William Rainey Harper College 21:1.

LLCC vs. Harper Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, LLCC 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 Lincoln Land Community College than Harper ($3,959 vs. $12,145).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Lincoln Land Community College are 33% lower than at William Rainey Harper College ($9,549 vs. $14,251).
• William Rainey Harper College is 41.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than LLCC (about $2,958 more per year; $10,062.00 vs. $7,104.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 13.5% higher at Harper than at Lincoln Land Community College (about $1,410 more per year; $11,874.00 vs. $10,464.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Lincoln Land Community College than at William Rainey Harper College (61% vs. 55%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Lincoln Land Community College students is 13.6% larger than aid received by William Rainey Harper College students ($8,373 vs. $7,368).

LLCC vs. Harper Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, LLCC 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 LLCC.

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

LLCC vs. Harper Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for LLCC 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 $7,800 more per year than LLCC graduates about ten years after starting college ($40,500 vs. $32,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Lincoln Land Community College graduates have a $500 lower median loan debt than Harper graduates ($9,500 vs. $10,000).
• Among borrowers, LLCC graduates have an estimated $5 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Harper graduates ($98 vs. $103).
• More Harper graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former LLCC students, three years after graduation. (46% vs. 41%)

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.