MCC vs. Prairie State College

Comparable Facts

Compare McHenry County College in Crystal Lake, IL with Prairie State College in Chicago Heights, IL on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

McHenry County College is larger than Prairie State College based on total student enrollment (9,399 students vs. 2,953 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• McHenry County College is located in Crystal Lake, IL (Rural Fringe setting); Prairie State College is in Chicago Heights, IL (Large Suburban setting).
• McHenry County College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Prairie State College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: McHenry County College 25:1; Prairie State College 12:1.

MCC vs. Prairie State College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, MCC 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 Prairie State College than MCC ($5,317 vs. $6,334).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Prairie State College are 37.8% lower than at McHenry County College ($7,516 vs. $12,090).
• McHenry County College is 11.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Prairie State College (about $1,050 more per year; $10,392.00 vs. $9,342.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 30.1% higher at MCC than at Prairie State College (about $3,335 more per year; $14,399.00 vs. $11,064.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Prairie State College than at McHenry County College (68% vs. 33%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Prairie State College students is 31.9% larger than aid received by McHenry County College students ($8,470 vs. $6,422).

MCC vs. Prairie State College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, MCC 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 MCC.

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

MCC vs. Prairie State College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for MCC 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 $200 more per year than MCC graduates about ten years after starting college ($33,000 vs. $32,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, McHenry County College graduates have a $5,732 lower median loan debt than Prairie State College graduates ($4,500 vs. $10,232).
• Among borrowers, MCC graduates have an estimated $59 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Prairie State College graduates ($46 vs. $105).
• More MCC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Prairie State College students, three years after graduation. (49% 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.