LLCC vs. Prairie State College

Comparable Facts

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

Lincoln Land Community College is larger than Prairie State College based on total student enrollment (5,677 students vs. 2,953 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Lincoln Land Community College is located in Springfield, IL (Midsize City setting); Prairie State College is in Chicago Heights, IL (Large Suburban setting).
• Lincoln Land 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: Lincoln Land Community College 17:1; Prairie State College 12:1.

LLCC vs. Prairie State College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, LLCC 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 Lincoln Land Community College than Prairie State College ($3,959 vs. $5,317).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Prairie State College are 21.3% lower than at Lincoln Land Community College ($7,516 vs. $9,549).
• Prairie State College is 31.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than LLCC (about $2,238 more per year; $9,342.00 vs. $7,104.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 5.7% higher at Prairie State College than at Lincoln Land Community College (about $600 more per year; $11,064.00 vs. $10,464.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Prairie State College than at Lincoln Land Community College (68% vs. 61%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Prairie State College students is 1.2% larger than aid received by Lincoln Land Community College students ($8,470 vs. $8,373).

LLCC vs. Prairie State College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, LLCC 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 LLCC.

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

LLCC vs. Prairie State College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for LLCC 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 $300 more per year than LLCC graduates about ten years after starting college ($33,000 vs. $32,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Lincoln Land Community College graduates have a $732 lower median loan debt than Prairie State College graduates ($9,500 vs. $10,232).
• Among borrowers, LLCC graduates have an estimated $7 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Prairie State College graduates ($98 vs. $105).
• More LLCC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Prairie State College students, three years after graduation. (41% 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.