Northwestern College vs. Heartland Community College

Comparable Facts

Compare Northwestern College in Oak Lawn, IL with Heartland Community College in Normal, IL on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Heartland Community College is larger than Northwestern College based on total student enrollment (4,855 students vs. 464 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Northwestern College is located in Oak Lawn, IL (Large Suburban setting); Heartland Community College is in Normal, IL (Rural Fringe setting).
• Northwestern College is a private, for-profit 2-year institution. Heartland Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Northwestern College 12:1; Heartland Community College 18:1.

Northwestern College vs. Heartland Community College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Northwestern College or Heartland Community College? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Northwestern College are 29.9% lower than at Heartland Community College ($8,100 vs. $11,550).
• Northwestern College is 72.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Heartland Community College (about $7,690 more per year; $18,280.00 vs. $10,590.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 39.4% higher at Northwestern College than at Heartland Community College (about $5,170 more per year; $18,280.00 vs. $13,110.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Heartland Community College than at Northwestern College (67% vs. 0%).

Northwestern College vs. Heartland Community College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Northwestern College or Heartland Community 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 Heartland Community College and Northwestern College.

• Heartland Community College reports an open admissions policy.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Northwestern College - Not reported; Heartland Community College - Open admission.

Northwestern College vs. Heartland Community College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Northwestern College and Heartland Community 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 Northwestern College earn a median of about $1,500 more per year than Heartland Community College graduates about ten years after starting college ($32,000 vs. $30,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Heartland Community College graduates have a $20,250 lower median loan debt than Northwestern College graduates ($6,750 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, Heartland Community College graduates have an estimated $210 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Northwestern College graduates ($69 vs. $279).
• More Heartland Community College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Northwestern College students, three years after graduation. (41% vs. 22%)

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.