Oakton College vs. Heartland Community College

Comparable Facts

Compare Oakton College in Des Plaines, IL with Heartland Community College in Normal, IL on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Oakton College is larger than Heartland Community College based on total student enrollment (8,329 students vs. 4,855 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Oakton College is located in Des Plaines, IL (Small City setting); Heartland Community College is in Normal, IL (Rural Fringe setting).
• Oakton College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Heartland Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Oakton College 14:1; Heartland Community College 18:1.

Oakton College vs. Heartland Community College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Oakton College or Heartland Community 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 Oakton College than Heartland Community College ($5,401 vs. $11,165).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Oakton College are 22.1% lower than at Heartland Community College ($8,994 vs. $11,550).
• Heartland Community College is 1.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Oakton College (about $144 more per year; $10,590.00 vs. $10,446.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 5.2% higher at Heartland Community College than at Oakton College (about $648 more per year; $13,110.00 vs. $12,462.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Heartland Community College than at Oakton College (67% vs. 62%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Heartland Community College students is 8.5% larger than aid received by Oakton College students ($6,601 vs. $6,085).

Oakton College vs. Heartland Community College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Oakton 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 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; Heartland Community College - Open admission.

Oakton College vs. Heartland Community College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Oakton 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 Oakton College earn a median of about $11,600 more per year than Heartland Community College graduates about ten years after starting college ($42,100 vs. $30,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Oakton College graduates have a $883 lower median loan debt than Heartland Community College graduates ($5,867 vs. $6,750).
• Among borrowers, Oakton College graduates have an estimated $9 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Heartland Community College graduates ($60 vs. $69).
• More Oakton College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Heartland Community College students, three years after graduation. (55% vs. 41%)

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.