MVCC vs. Prairie State College

Comparable Facts

Compare Moraine Valley Community College in Palos Hills, IL with Prairie State College in Chicago Heights, IL on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Moraine Valley Community College is larger than Prairie State College based on total student enrollment (11,296 students vs. 2,953 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Moraine Valley Community College is located in Palos Hills, IL (Large Suburban setting); Prairie State College is in Chicago Heights, IL (Large Suburban setting).
• Moraine Valley 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: Moraine Valley Community College 21:1; Prairie State College 12:1.

MVCC vs. Prairie State College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, MVCC 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 Moraine Valley Community College than Prairie State College ($2,915 vs. $5,317).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Prairie State College are 57.6% lower than at Moraine Valley Community College ($7,516 vs. $17,734).
• Prairie State College is 9.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than MVCC (about $840 more per year; $9,342.00 vs. $8,502.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 12.4% higher at Prairie State College than at Moraine Valley Community College (about $1,218 more per year; $11,064.00 vs. $9,846.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Prairie State College than at Moraine Valley Community College (68% vs. 60%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Moraine Valley Community College students is 27.8% larger than aid received by Prairie State College students ($10,825 vs. $8,470).

MVCC vs. Prairie State College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, MVCC 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 MVCC.

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

MVCC vs. Prairie State College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for MVCC 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 Moraine Valley Community College earn a median of about $3,400 more per year than Prairie State College graduates about ten years after starting college ($36,400 vs. $33,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Moraine Valley Community College graduates have a $1,094 lower median loan debt than Prairie State College graduates ($9,138 vs. $10,232).
• Among borrowers, MVCC graduates have an estimated $11 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Prairie State College graduates ($94 vs. $105).
• More MVCC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Prairie State College students, three years after graduation. (43% 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.