Oakton College vs. Harper

Comparable Facts

Compare Oakton College in Des Plaines, 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 Oakton College based on total student enrollment (13,988 students vs. 8,329 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Oakton College is located in Des Plaines, IL (Small City setting); William Rainey Harper College is in Palatine, IL (Large Suburban setting).
• Oakton 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: Oakton College 14:1; William Rainey Harper College 21:1.

Oakton College vs. Harper Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Oakton College 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 Oakton College than Harper ($5,401 vs. $12,145).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Oakton College are 36.9% lower than at William Rainey Harper College ($8,994 vs. $14,251).
• Oakton College is 3.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Harper (about $384 more per year; $10,446.00 vs. $10,062.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 5% higher at Oakton College than at William Rainey Harper College (about $588 more per year; $12,462.00 vs. $11,874.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Oakton College than at William Rainey Harper College (62% vs. 55%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by William Rainey Harper College students is 21.1% larger than aid received by Oakton College students ($7,368 vs. $6,085).

Oakton College vs. Harper Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Oakton College 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 Oakton College.

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

Oakton College vs. Harper Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Oakton College 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 Oakton College earn a median of about $1,600 more per year than Harper graduates about ten years after starting college ($42,100 vs. $40,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Oakton College graduates have a $4,133 lower median loan debt than Harper graduates ($5,867 vs. $10,000).
• Among borrowers, Oakton College graduates have an estimated $43 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Harper graduates ($60 vs. $103).
• More Oakton College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Harper students, three years after graduation. (55% vs. 46%)

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.